💥Most People Blow This at Work (Do You?)

Happy Friday Eve, Legends!

Ever wonder why just doing the job you were actually hired to do isn’t enough?

Turns out, no one told you the real job requires a PhD in Ass-Covering, with a minor in Visibility Theater, and advanced coursework Not Getting Stabbed in the Back by That Guy Whose Only Skill Is Staying Close to Power.

Today, we’re breaking down why office politics isn’t optional, why hard work alone won’t cut it, and how to navigate a system where the loudest or sneakiest person keeps winning.

Stick around till the end - trust me, it's worth it. Because while they're playing games, you're about to learn the rules they don't want you to know.

🧨 THE RANT - Visibility Beats Competence

You were told that getting ahead at work was about putting your head down, meeting deadlines, and doing the work - cute story, thanks for nothing, guidance counselor.

Then you watched as the loudest (or sneakiest) person got the credit.

You know, the dim-wit who once called IT because their computer “wouldn’t turn on”, only to find out it wasn’t plugged in - yet somehow they're now "leading digital transformation initiatives!”

In reality, it's not about being the best or smartest, it's about being seen by people who matter.

Because in most places, visibility beats competency every damn time.

Hard work might get you a pat on the back.

But visibility? It gets you the keys to the kingdom.

📊 REALITY CHECK

So when leadership says “we promote based on merit,” what they really mean is:

We promote based on who’s in the room, or who makes the room feel good.

Infuriating, right?

If you’re sick of watching this shit-show, you’re not alone. It’s draining to see “charm” beat competence.

But here's the truth - you don't need to become a schmoozer to win this game. You just need to play it smarter.

💡 TIP OF THE WEEK

 ♦️Strategic Alliance Mapping♦️ 

Situation:
You’re navigating a reorg, a new leadership team, or shifting project priorities. Suddenly, old alliances don’t hold, and new players are emerging.

Steal This Line (for your own clarity, not for outreach):
“Who are the new power centers and gatekeepers I need to track in this new landscape?”

Why It Works:
Because office politics is a living system, what worked before might not work now. That’s why you need something more than a one-time fix, you need a real-time playbook.

But first, let’s talk about the 3 biggest mistakes most people make…

1. Thinking they’re “above” office politics while others quietly build alliances around them.

2. Confusing political skill with manipulation and missing golden opportunities.

3. Believing technical skills alone will save them, while real players keep outmaneuvering them.

Enter the Strategic Alliance Map 

Your dynamic tool for understanding how to track shifting alliances and emerging influencers.

Want to make sure you’re not falling into these traps?

👉 [Download: The Alliance Map] - We break down how to track power players, gatekeepers, allies, and obstacles so you can see exactly where you stand and start mapping your way to real influence.

And because we know you’re serious about turning these insights into action…

We’re also giving away another FREE guide!

👉️ [The Ultimate Guide to Office Politics - Building Political Intelligence.] - We’ve distilled how to navigate workplace dynamics, build ethical political skill, and understand the power plays at any career stage, all while staying true to your values.

Stay sharp. More insider gold coming your way next week.

🔦 SUBSCRIBER STORY SPOTLIGHT

💬 REAL TALK

🗣️ Want to tell your story?

We feature real ones every week, yours could be next.

💩 YOU CAN’T MAKE THIS SH*T UP

Company: Enron

Anyone remember the Enron scandal in the early 2000s?

A prime-time cautionary tale about what happens when office politics goes from petty to predatory.

Enron’s culture was like an all-you-can-eat buffet of ass-kissing, secrets, and backroom deals. Everyone was so busy hustling for their slice of the pie, they forgot that, oops, the oven was on fire.

The result? 

A workplace thrill ride fueled by ego, lies, and cooked books.

And when it all collapsed?

The drop made Six Flags look like a kiddie coaster - no seatbelts, no brakes, no rescue crew.

🎯 FINAL WORD

Visibility isn’t the enemy of authenticity, it’s your leverage when merit takes a back seat to maneuvering.

You're not here to chase attention. You're here to read the room and make sure your work doesn't get hijacked as someone else's "brilliant idea."

After all the dumber shit you’ve survived, this? Just another day at the office.

🔮 Next Week: Red Flags in Job Interviews — What They’re Really Saying

We’re calling out the hidden red flags you need to watch for in interviews and trust us, you’ll never look at them the same way again.

⚡️ Before you go, your voice matters

📩 Prefer to email?

We love hearing from you, and yes, we actually read every single email.

Your feedback tells us what hits different, what to scrap, and which workplace nightmares need our attention next.

👉️ Got an idea? Something you wish existed, like an eBook, course, or even a done-for-you service?

👉️ We’re toying with adding stuff like quizzes, giveaways, prizes, and hell, if we’re feeling feral enough, maybe even a podcast.

👉️ And when the time’s right, we’d love to build a community where none of us are stuck surviving work alone.

💪 We’re here to support, empower, and raise hell — together!

📬 [email protected]

One last thing…

🗨️ A Message From Our Newest Sponsor…we got another one, ya’ll!

Don’t be that person who still thinks AI is just a fancy new printer setting while the rest of us are using it to decode who’s playing office politics behind the scenes and who’s just another corporate parrot.

Ready to see how AI can give you an edge? Read on…

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That’s all for this week, legends. 👋 

📝 P.S.

If nobody’s told you today -
You’re doing better than the system deserves.
You’re surviving something that wasn’t designed to sustain you.
And that’s not failure.
That’s straight-up superhuman.

📣 Know someone who’s been “strategically left out” of every meeting?

Forward this like you’re the friend saying, “Heads up, the boss’s favorite brownnoser is about to take credit for your work.”