Last week, I caught up with an old friend - let’s call her Sarah. She’s a really good engineer, works harder than anyone I know, and always does what’s expected.

But here’s the kicker: Despite all her effort, Sarah hasn’t gotten promoted.

We started talking about why so many smart, hardworking folks like her don’t get the raises or promotions they deserve. It’s frustrating to see people who put in less effort get promoted and then brag about it on LinkedIn.

• 'Excited to announce...' followed by a brag.
• 'Beyond thrilled to share this life-changing news!'
• 'I’m excited to start this new chapter and disrupt the industry!'

I get that people should share their achievements, but it’s tough when you feel left behind. And that’s what we realized: It’s not about working harder.

It’s about the lies we tell ourselves—lies that keep us stuck, frustrated, and doubting our potential. I’ve been there too, and I know how tough it can be. From my experience, here are the four biggest lies that might be holding you back.

Let’s break them down so you can avoid them and start making real progress toward your 2025 goals.

Lie #1: If I just work hard enough, someone will notice.

This lie feels true because you pour your heart into your work, stay late, take on extra projects, and hope your efforts will be recognized. But here's the harsh reality: Hard work in silence is just hard work.

The real issue is:

• You assume your boss or decision-makers notice everything you do.
• You think your results will speak for themselves, but they won't.

Take Sarah, for example. She worked weekends for months to rebuild our company’s backend infrastructure, but no one knew about her efforts. The person assisting the project got promoted because Sarah didn't communicate her value in meetings, reviews, and updates.

Now, Sarah plans to:

• Regularly document and share her achievements.
• Speak up in team meetings to highlight her impact.
• Build relationships with key stakeholders beyond her team.

It's not easy to make these changes; they need to become daily habits. If you're a woman in a male-dominated environment, you might want to join other women in the 30-day assertiveness challenge to learn to confidently share your value, so you can get promoted and not be left behind like Sarah.

Lie #2: I need to wait for the perfect opportunity.

This lie is tricky because it seems like the responsible thing to do. You convince yourself you're being smart by waiting for the perfect time to act.

But the truth is, waiting for everything to be perfect is just a fancy way of putting things off.

The real problem is:

• You’re afraid of failing or being judged.
• You’re using the idea of perfect timing to avoid taking risks.
• You’re stuck overthinking instead of actually getting out there and learning.

Think about it—how many people do you know who waited for the perfect job or company, while others took less-than-perfect opportunities, learned new skills, and moved ahead in their careers?

So the next time you find yourself waiting for everything to be perfect, ask yourself:

What am I missing out on by waiting for perfection?

Lie #3: I should focus on fixing my weaknesses.

This lie sounds smart because it seems like improving weaknesses should make you better overall. But here's the truth: Focusing too much on your weaknesses can make you mediocre at everything.

You might be:

• Following generic advice that doesn't fit your unique strengths.
• Ignoring what you're naturally good at.
• Losing what makes you stand out.

I was coaching Jonathan, a marketing manager who wanted to get a job as a Head of Marketing. Before working with me spent six months trying to improve his data analysis skills, which he hated and wasn't good at. Meanwhile, his true strength creative strategy was not shining in the job search process and he was getting rejection after rejection.

We shifted focus to what he was great at.

He started highlighting his creative leadership, targeted companies in the creative industry, and showcased his strong creative work on LinkedIn.

Guess what? John landed a senior role and received a $40,000 salary increase.

Before you dive into another skill-building course, ask yourself:

Am I maximizing my strengths, or am I wasting time trying to fix weaknesses?

Lie #4: If I’m busy, I’m making progress.

This lie is tricky because being busy feels productive. You fill your schedule, work long hours, and check off lots of tasks. But at the end of the year, you realize you're still stuck.

The real issue?

• You say yes to tasks that don’t really matter.
• You avoid big, scary projects that could change your career.
• You focus on what’s urgent, not what’s truly important.

I talked to someone looking for a job who spent 25 hours a week on job search tasks. But after weeks of effort, he wasn’t getting any interviews.

We made a job search plan for him, focusing on:

• Applying to jobs in high-growing industries to move fast in career.
• Reaching out directly to hiring managers to get his application noticed.
• Practicing interviews for specific roles to show he has skills to solve the business problem.

Within three weeks, he got 13 interview invites and two job offers.

Before you fill your calendar, ask yourself: Am I moving closer to my goals, or just staying busy?

Your career isn't shaped by your situation. It's shaped by what you believe.

Which of these lies have you been telling yourself? And which one are you ready to let go of this year?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Which lie do you relate to the most? Hit reply and share—every email means a lot to me.

Here’s to amazing 2025,

Gaurav

P.S. If you found this helpful, consider sharing it with someone who might need it. A simple message at the right time can make a big difference.