My First Ever Promotion
From Small Businesses to the Corporate World
When I started my new role, I was stepping into uncharted territory. Having spent most of my career working with entrepreneurs in small businesses or family-run ventures with fluid job titles, the structured corporate environment felt different. Yet, I believed promotions were inevitable because of the universal principles I had begun to glean in recent times (which now I try and extensively blog about!). I had made up my mind to excel and push boundaries because I felt I had spent too long thinking that the right attitude was simply waiting for things to happen. I wasn’t going to wait anymore; I had already seen too many deals fall through because I thought the waiting game was the right approach. But no more. I became hungry—hungry to make things happen, with an unrelenting desire to make a difference and add value.
Functional vs. Vital Employees
In every business, there are two types of people: the functional employee and the vital employee. The functional employee does what’s necessary to stay employed, keeping the wheels turning. The vital employee, however, is the one who stands out—taking initiative, driving growth, and ensuring their contribution goes beyond the minimum expectation. According to Price’s Law, a small percentage of the workforce—often around 20%—produces the majority of the results. This is strikingly similar to the Pareto Principle (the 80/20 rule), which suggests that 20% of efforts often produce 80% of outcomes. Both concepts highlight how a minority can drive the majority of the impact. Recognising this, I was determined to be part of that small group—one of the vital employees driving meaningful change and making a measurable difference within the organisation.
I am determined to be that vital employee.
A Mindset for Excellence
I was inspired by Atlas Shrugged, and with Francisco d'Anconia’s mindset in mind, I committed myself to being the best at everything I did. One of my guiding principles was simple: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.”
Each challenge was an opportunity to demonstrate my value.
Don't wish it was easier—wish you were better. Don't wish for fewer problems—wish for more skill.
Finding and Solving Problems
It became apparent to me that there were—and still are—areas in the company's operations that could be more efficient and focused. I was happy to find these gaps because they represented opportunities to make a difference and have a real impact. I spent hours outside of my regular work responsibilities imagining ways to solve these problems. As I began to express these ideas to senior leadership, I was continually rebuffed. But I persisted—I’m known for my indefatigability.
Turning the Impossible Around
On one occasion, a colleague informed me that we, as a company, had a strained relationship with a client who was about to fire us. Things had gotten so bad that they believed there was no way to turn the situation around. Senior leadership was notified to prepare for the de-instruction letter.
I had been positioning myself to be more client-engaging, and I was given permission to try and salvage the impossible relationship. I was told the client would never speak to me. The client even stated in their last email to the company—and their first email to me personally—that they only wanted to communicate via written correspondence going forward.
I had them on a WhatsApp video call the same day.
Now, that same client calls me to share updates on their holiday escapades.
Eventually, my ideas began to be listened to, and I was given increased responsibility to demonstrate whether they could produce results.
Continuous Growth
If I want to 10x my income, the gap between what I currently know and what I need to know must be massive. To bridge that gap, I’ve committed to constant learning. I read at least two books a month, drawing insights from authors who have achieved far greater corporate exploits than myself. These ideas have helped shape my approach, but I’ve learned that people often see the messenger before they truly hear the message.
My role isn’t to change the entire company overnight—it’s to focus on excelling in my current role and consistently adding value there. But these questions linger: Why should they listen to me? Why should they trust my advice? If I’m so knowlegeable why not leave and start my own business? How can I show that my ideas aren’t just theories but practical solutions that deliver real results?
These are all worthy questions. Over time, I trust my results will continue to speak for themselves, building credibility and making my perspective increasingly welcome.
Recognition and Opportunity
As feedback from colleagues and clients grew, so did the trust and credibility I had been working to build. "Darren seems to be consistently exceeding expectations," and "Darren has done what people superior to him have said is impossible." These statements became more common as my contributions began to stand out. Leadership started to think: Maybe we should give him a chance to prove himself.
As I’ve shared in previous blogs, the key to success lies in consistently exceeding expectations. When you go beyond what’s required, others take notice. They begin to trust you more, value your input, and look for ways to support your journey.
When the opportunity for a promotion finally came, it wasn’t something I had to pursue aggressively. I had been preparing for it before it arrived, and by then, I was being pushed toward it from all directions.
No Excuses, Only Ownership
It’s easy to make excuses for why progress hasn’t been made. Often, those excuses are valid. It might not be your fault—but it’s still your responsibility. That’s the mindset that separates those who remain stuck from those who move forward.
Instead of wishing for fewer problems, I’ve learned to focus on developing more skills. Problems are inevitable, but how you respond to them makes all the difference. Every challenge is a chance to rise above, exceed expectations, and prove what’s possible.
The attitude of persistent, sacrificial excellence is unstoppable and transformative. It’s this attitude that has propelled me through each phase of my journey so far, and it’s what I plan to carry with me as I continue growing and evolving.
Will you join me and do the same?
Questions Vital Employees Ask…
How can I make the lives of those around me easier?
How can I alleviate the concerns and stresses of those superior to me?
What creative ways can I help my company save money?
How can I increase revenue through innovative solutions?
How can I do more of what is required of me?