Are You Checking Boxes or Creating Value?

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The best careers aren’t built on effort—they’re built on value.

Most people assume the wrong things will get them ahead.

You see it all the time:

• The person who stays late every night but never seems to get promoted.

• The expert in their field who knows everything but isn’t respected by leadership.

• The employee with a decade of experience who is suddenly laid off.

What do they all have in common?

They think they’re doing the right things—but they’re not creating value.

Make yourself invaluable, and you’ll build a successful, well-paid career. Get distracted, and you risk becoming replaceable.

It’s the brutal truth about capitalism: it rewards those who create value—and often overlooks those who don’t.

The Difference Between Working Hard and Creating Value

A few years ago, a member of my team came to me frustrated.

“I don’t get it”, they said. “I’ve been managing relationships with three C-level executives, leading high-visibility projects, and meeting all of the expectations on the competency matrix”. They continued, “What else do I have to do to get promoted?!”.

They even presented a document outlining their accomplishments. But something was missing.

They were focused on checking boxes, not on driving impact.

What would those accomplishments look like if they were framed around value instead?

• Cut attrition of high-performing talent by 10% by solving a key retention issue.

• Saved $1M by leading a strategic org redesign.

• Boosted engagement survey coaching scores by 15 points with a new coaching framework.

One version tells a story of effort. The other proves undeniable impact.

How to Focus on Value

1. Audit How You Spend Your Time

Awareness is the first step to behavior change. One of the most revealing exercises you can do is a time audit. Not in a “track every second” micromanagement way, but as a way to get clarity.

Twice a day (around lunch and at the end of the day), quickly jot down what you spent time on.

Then step back and ask:

• Was this time well spent?

• Did it contribute to business priorities?

• Could this have been done differently or not at all?

To make this easier, you can leverage this time tracker template.

Even if you do nothing else after this, this exercise will unlock helpful insights about how you spend your time at work. I bet you’ll find some surprises.

2. Categorize Your Work: Value-Add, Neutral, or Negative

Not all work is created equal.

A few weeks ago, I spent 20 minutes searching for the “perfect” image for a slide.

I had five tabs open, scrolling through stock photos, debating between two almost identical options. Meanwhile, I had a major org-wide initiative that needed a clear communication plan.

One task moved the business forward. The other? Just busy work.

Once you’ve completed your time audit, categorize each activity as:

• Value-add – Directly impacts revenue, efficiency, or strategic goals.

• Neutral – Necessary but not high-impact (e.g., admin work).

• Negative – Time wasted on things that don’t matter.

How did your time break down?

If less than 50% of your time is value-add, it’s time to reassess. Ideally, you want 70%+ of your time spent on high-impact work.

3. Align With Your Manager

Early in my career, I made a mistake.

For six months, I worked on a project I thought was critical. I stayed late, I fine-tuned every detail, and I was proud of the final product.

Then, in a 1:1, my manager barely acknowledged it. “Yeah, that’s good,” she said, before quickly shifting the conversation to another priority.

I had spent months working on something that barely registered on the radar. That was the moment I learned if you’re not actively checking in with your boss, it’s easier to get misaligned than you think.

Your manager influences your pay, growth, and future opportunities. You may assume that if yout boss isn’t saying anything, you must be working on the right things. That’s a dangerous assumption.

Instead of assuming, be proactive:

• Share your time audit – Get their take on whether you're focused on the right things.

• Ask: If you were in my role, what’s the most valuable thing to focus on for the next 90 days?

• Adjust accordingly: Prioritize work that directly supports business goals.

This 10-minute check-in can prevent months of wasted effort.

4. Think Beyond the Present Moment

In 2025, change happens faster than ever. What’s valuable today might be irrelevant next year.

You can optimize your time now, but long-term career success comes from anticipating what’s next.

Ask yourself:

• What skills will be critical in my role next year?

• Which ones am I strong in, and where do I need to improve?

Then, build a focused development plan to close those gaps.

The people who stay ahead aren’t just adding value today. They’re preparing for what’s coming next.

Final Takeaway

I once helped guide leaders through a difficult layoff. I was responsible for setting up the process to decide who should stay and who should go.

As I met with each leader to review their teams, I never heard someone say, “I need to keep them because they work hard.”

However, I did see visceral reactions to the thought of losing someone they can’t imagine living without—someone who constantly delivers value, helps move the business forward, and makes them and their team look good.

If you want to fulfill your career aspirations, consistently adding value is the quickest way there.

Until Next Time,

Winston

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