Davis Amanya-Wellness & Lifestyle Coach

There’s a man in my office who hasn’t been promoted in 6 years. He arrives before everyone. Leaves after everyone. Knows the company’s systems better than the people who built them. When something breaks at 2am, they call him. His name is on the bottom of reports that directors present to the board. He doesn’t complain. He says he’s just “not political.” Last week, a 26-year-old joined us. MBA. Firm handshake. Calls the MD by his first name. Within 3 months, he’s already sitting in meetings my colleague has never been invited to. I watched my colleague train him. Smiled the whole time. Answered every question. Shared shortcuts it took him years to figure out. Afterwards I asked him, don’t you feel cheated? He looked at me for a long moment. “I used to. But I realized something. I’ve been loyal to a company. Not a purpose. Those are not the same thing.” He resigned two weeks later. Took everything he knew with him. Started something of his own. The MD sent a company-wide email. Called it “a great loss to the team.” Eleven years of emails. And that was the first one that mentioned his name. The system will celebrate your exit more than it ever celebrated your presence. Stop waiting to be seen. Build something that sees you if you’re not appreciated where you are.