The Game Nobody Told You About

The game nobody told you about.

At some point in your career, something shifts. And nobody tells you when it happens.

Early on, you're evaluated on your work. The quality. The numbers. Do good work, get recognized. Straightforward.

Then you get promoted. And somewhere in there, the evaluation criteria change — but nobody sends you a memo.

You stop being evaluated on your work and start being evaluated on how people talk about your work.

It's like you trained for a track race. But now you're running a relay. Your speed still matters, but the handoffs determine who wins.

I watch professionals figure this out two promotions too late. They keep their head down, do exceptional work, and wonder why someone with half their output keeps getting the opportunities.

Are you still playing by the rules that got you here? Or have you noticed that the game changed?