Chasing growth not applause is how real impact happens

When we start a new job, especially those of us driven by ambition, it's easy to get excited by all the potential things we could improve. The energy is there, and the intentions are good. But if you're not careful, you end up taking on random "initiatives" that feel more like side projects than real contributions.

I’ve been there. Building stuff that looks impressive but doesn’t actually matter to the business. Trying to show value, but ending up isolated from where the real decisions happen.

Start small, build trust

One of the best pieces of advice I received from a teammate was to start small. Find something concrete to improve, do it well, and then move forward. It builds trust, credibility, and momentum. Instead of trying to change everything at once, pick something that removes friction or saves time. Automate a small process. Help a teammate with a manual task. Ship something that makes someone’s life easier.

These wins compound. And when people start to notice, you're not just doing the work, you’re getting invited into the room where ideas are discussed. Not because you asked for it, but because they see you as someone who adds value.

Align with business and personal growth

That’s the key: contribute in ways that make sense for the business, but also for your personal growth. Not just pet projects for your portfolio. Not just chasing recognition. Look for overlaps, where the company needs help and where you want to grow. That’s the sweet spot.

Want to learn more about systems? Own a small internal tool and improve it. Want to grow in communication? Offer to run a small sync or write the docs that are missing. Want to improve your product thinking? Solve a real user problem, not just a tech one.

You don’t need to wait for permission. But you do need to solve something real.

And here's something to keep in mind: a lot of people change jobs because they get bored or feel stuck. No challenges, no growth, no excitement. But sometimes, that’s actually something we can influence. The challenge doesn’t always have to come from above. We can often create it ourselves. Reinvent how we work, seek out new angles, and find ways to learn by doing. That’s a kind of creativity we don’t talk about enough.

Learn to pitch ideas effectively

As you gain more context and see more opportunities, you'll start to develop ideas of your own. This is where learning how to pitch them becomes key.

Pitching isn’t about having a perfect slide deck. It’s about showing you understand the problem, proposing a realistic solution, and framing it in terms of business impact and deliverables.

When you present your idea, lead with the value:

• What pain point are you solving?
• Who does it help?
• What’s the impact (saved time, reduced risk, better experience)?
• What’s your proposed timeline and first deliverable?

If you can show that your idea matters and that you’ve thought through execution, it’s easier for others to support you. It shifts the conversation from “Is this worth doing?” to “When can we start?”

Get allies and collaborators

Ideas are rarely built in isolation. If you want your contributions to grow in influence, you need allies. People who see the value in what you’re doing and want to support it. That starts with listening.

Talk to people in other teams. Ask what their pain points are. If your idea can help them too, bring them in early. Make them part of the process. That turns your idea into a shared opportunity.

And when someone gives you feedback, show that you can actually integrate it. Not defensively, but constructively. People trust those who can adapt. If your original proposal doesn’t quite fit, adjust it. Find the common ground. Reframe the problem so it reflects more than just your view.

Often, the best ideas come from connecting several smaller ones. If you can spot a pattern, abstract different conversations into a shared need, and propose one core solution, you’re not just solving a problem. You’re creating alignment.

This also shows something even more important: that you can drive ideas forward, not just throw them around. It's easy to talk about improvement. It's much harder to follow through, evolve your thinking, and make it real. People notice that. And they trust those who do.

Build a reputation through real work

That’s how you get pulled into bigger things. That’s how you build a reputation. Not just by being smart, but by being collaborative, responsive, and consistent. That’s how growth happens, one meaningful contribution at a time.

What’s one thing you could start improving this week that helps both you and your team?