Before we dive into today’s episode, I want to do something most coaches don’t — I want to talk about the cost of working with me.

If you’ve ever thought about reaching out or scheduling a consultation call but hesitated because you assumed it would be too expensive, I get it. You’re not alone — I’ve had a number of people tell me they waited because they thought coaching would be a huge investment of time and money.

The truth is, a lot of coaching programs out there are expensive. Many are structured to keep you working with a coach for months — or even years — at a time. And for some people, that might make sense.

But I’m a CPA. I know how accountants think, and I know what matters most to you — results, efficiency, and value. That’s exactly why I’ve designed my programs to be affordable, time-efficient, and highly effective.

The Smarter Accountant Program is just 6 weeks and costs $995.

The Smarter Accountant Time Management Program is 4 weeks and costs $795.

That’s it. No hidden upsells, no long-term commitments. Just focused, powerful coaching that helps you solve the real issues getting in your way.

And honestly, the results are priceless. Feeling in control of your time, your career, and your life — that’s not just worth the investment… it’s why I do this work.

So if you’ve been on the fence, worried about what it would cost — now you know. And if today’s episode resonates with you, I hope you’ll schedule that call.

Have you ever been told, “Just keep your head down, do good work, and people will notice”?

It sounds like solid advice, right? The kind of thing that seems smart and simple when you’re first starting out in your career.

But the more I think about it, the more I realize how wrong it can be—especially for accountants.

We’re trained to work hard, stay focused, and follow the rules. So when someone tells us to keep our heads down and do our job well, it feels like the right thing to do.

But what happens when you do all of that and still feel stuck?

What happens when no one seems to notice all the effort you’re putting in?

I was thinking about this recently because I read something in an email that said almost the exact same thing—that this was the worst career advice someone had ever received. And I have to admit, it hit home.

It made me think about how many of us have followed that advice without even questioning it.

We assume that being quiet and hardworking will eventually pay off. That someone will come along, tap us on the shoulder, and say, “Hey, you’ve been doing a great job—here’s your promotion or more money.”

But that’s not always how it works, is it?

Sometimes being the hardest worker in the room just makes you the most tired—not the most recognized.

And that can feel frustrating, confusing, and even a little lonely.

Because deep down, you know you’re good at what you do. You know you care, you show up, and you’re doing your best.

So why does it sometimes feel like you’re invisible?

Why do others seem to get ahead while you’re still waiting to be noticed?

If you’ve ever asked yourself those questions—or even just had that quiet thought of, “Why doesn’t anyone see how hard I’m working?”—you’re not alone.

This is something I’ve seen come up again and again with coaching clients. It’s something I’ve experienced myself too.

And the truth is, that simple piece of advice—keep your head down and do good work—might actually be what’s holding you back.

So let’s talk about it. Let’s talk about why that advice can lead you in the wrong direction, and what it might be costing you without you even realizing it.

Because if you’re feeling stuck or unseen, there’s a reason for it—and it’s not what you might think.

Why “Just Work Hard” Isn’t Enough Anymore

For years, many accountants have been told that the secret to success is simple: work hard, stay late, and follow the rules. We’re taught to be dependable, accurate, and low-maintenance. And while those are great traits, they’re not always the ones that get noticed.

You might think that being the person who never complains, who always gets the job done, and who keeps their head down is the best way to move up. But that’s not how it usually works. In fact, it can sometimes have the opposite effect.

When you don’t speak up or show up in a bigger way, people may assume you’re fine exactly where you are. You might be seen as reliable but not necessarily leadership material. Or you might be quietly passed over for opportunities simply because no one realizes you’re ready for more.

It’s not that people don’t value your work—it’s that they don’t see it. And if they don’t see it, they can’t recognize your full value.

This doesn’t mean you have to brag or become someone you’re not. But it does mean you need to stop hiding behind your hard work and start stepping forward a little more.

Because working hard in silence won’t automatically lead to success. And waiting to be noticed can leave you feeling resentful, overlooked, or stuck.

So if you’ve been doing everything “right” and still not getting where you want to go, this might be the reason.

In the next section, let’s look at why this quiet approach to your career can actually be a problem—and what it might be costing you without you even realizing it.

The Real Cost of Staying Quiet at Work

When you keep your head down and focus only on doing good work, it can seem like the right thing to do. But over time, it can start to feel like you’re invisible.

You might notice other people getting recognized, promoted, or trusted with bigger projects—even if you’re the one doing most of the heavy lifting behind the scenes.

That can feel unfair. And it’s easy to start thinking something is wrong with you when really, you’re just not being seen.

Staying quiet at work can also come with a big cost. It can hold you back from earning more money, from taking on work that actually excites you, or from being included in important conversations and decisions.

It can even affect how you feel about yourself. You might start questioning your worth, wondering if you’re doing something wrong, or feeling like you’re stuck in a role that doesn’t fit anymore.

And when those thoughts start taking over, it becomes harder to feel confident or motivated.

The truth is, being the “best kept secret” doesn’t help anyone—not you, and not the people who could benefit from what you bring to the table.

If you want to grow in your career, you have to be willing to be seen.

In the next section, I’m going to explain what’s really going on in your brain when you stay quiet and why visibility can feel so uncomfortable—even when you know it’s what you need.

The Brain Science Behind Why You Stay Invisible

If you’ve been playing small or staying quiet at work, it’s not because you’re lazy or don’t want more. It’s because your brain is trying to protect you.

Your brain’s main job is to keep you safe. And for your brain, safety often means staying comfortable, avoiding risk, and not drawing too much attention.

Putting your head down and doing good work feels safe. It’s predictable. It doesn’t invite judgment, rejection, or embarrassment. So your brain thinks, “Great, let’s keep doing this.”

But being seen? Speaking up? Asking for more? That feels risky. Your brain sees that as a threat, even if you know it could help your career.

For example, maybe you want to speak up in a meeting and share an idea, but something in your body freezes. Or you think about asking for a raise, but you feel nervous and end up putting it off. 

Even writing a short message on LinkedIn can feel like too much. That’s not because you’re not capable—it’s because your brain is trying to keep you from doing something unfamiliar.

Your brain would rather you stay in the role you know, even if it’s not the one you want. It doesn’t understand growth—it understands comfort. And that means it will push you to avoid anything that feels too new or uncertain.

This is totally normal. There’s nothing wrong with you if being visible feels hard. Your brain is wired to choose comfort over growth unless you give it a new job to do.

The good news is, you can train your brain to handle visibility without shutting down or pulling back.

Next, I’ll share a story about a coaching client who struggled with this exact issue—and how things changed once she stopped being the best kept secret.

Becoming a Smarter Accountant: Not Following Bad Advice

One of my coaching clients once described herself as “the go-to person no one ever talked about.” She was the one fixing mistakes, staying late, and making sure nothing fell through the cracks—but still, she felt overlooked.

She told me that when promotions came around, she was always passed over. Not because she wasn’t good enough, but because no one really saw her. She wasn’t someone who spoke up in meetings or shared her wins, and she never asked for more—not more pay, more responsibility, or more recognition.

Her brain had her convinced that doing great work in silence was the right move. She thought it would speak for itself. But instead, she ended up feeling stuck and a little resentful.

So in our coaching sessions, we worked on shifting that. She started by simply writing down what she accomplished each week—just for herself at first. Then she began finding small ways to speak up—thanking a teammate in an email thread or sharing a short update in a meeting.

Little by little, her mindset started to shift. She stopped waiting to be noticed and started showing up more—still in a way that felt natural, but no longer invisible.

By the time we wrapped up our sessions, she had been given a leadership role on a new project. Not because she suddenly changed who she was, but because she stopped hiding.

The bottom line is that you don’t have to be loud or flashy to be valued. But you do have to be willing to step forward and be seen.

In the next section, I’ll recap what we’ve covered and give you a few key reminders to take with you—especially if you’ve been quietly waiting for your work to speak for itself.

Key Takeaway and Action Item

The key takeaway is that when you spend your career waiting to be noticed, you give up control. You hand your future over to chance and hope that someone eventually sees your value.

But visibility isn’t about bragging. It’s about ownership. It’s about being clear on what you bring to the table—and making sure the right people know it.

You can still be humble and be seen. You can still be helpful and have boundaries. The two are not opposites.

When you become more visible, you’re not just helping yourself—you’re helping your team, your clients, and your organization benefit from everything you have to offer.

Your work matters, but people need to know you matter too.

So here’s a question to ask yourself: “If no one ever noticed my hard work—would I still keep doing things the same way?”

It’s not an easy question, but it’s an important one. If your answer makes you pause, that might be a sign that something needs to shift. Not your work ethic—but the way you show up and share the value you bring.

In the final section, I’ll pull back the curtain and share my own experience with being the “best kept secret”—and what changed when I finally let go of that old advice.

Pulling Back the Curtain

I remember early in my career being told to just keep my head down and work hard. And I did exactly that. I stayed late, said yes to everything, and made sure my work was always done right.

At first, it felt like the right thing to do. I thought my dedication would speak for itself. I assumed people would notice and reward me for how reliable I was.

But they didn’t.

Looking back, I can see what that advice really cost me—missed opportunities, slower growth, and years of feeling like I had to prove myself over and over without ever really being seen.

Instead, I watched others get promoted or praised—people who weren’t necessarily better at the job, but who were better at being seen. And I started to feel frustrated. I was doing everything I thought I was supposed to do, and it wasn’t getting me anywhere.

It took me a long time to realize that doing great work quietly wasn’t enough. I had to stop waiting to be discovered and start showing up differently.

Not louder. Just more intentional.

One of the biggest shifts came a few years ago when the small firm I worked for merged with a mid-sized firm. I had been with my firm for over 20 years, and suddenly, there was a new partner who didn’t know me or what I brought to the table.

During my first year-end review with him, I knew I had a choice—I could either keep my head down and hope he noticed, or I could speak up and tell him exactly who I was and why that mattered.

So I did. I told him how I’d been a steady, reliable presence for over two decades. I explained how much continuity I provided for the clients during the merger, how they leaned on me because I was familiar and dependable. I made it clear that I wasn’t just another employee—I was someone who helped make the transition smoother and kept the firm running strong.

And you know what? He heard me.

It wasn’t awkward or uncomfortable—it was honest. And it gave him a new level of appreciation for what I do and how I do it.

In fact, at my last year-end review, I came with a list of things I was able to accomplish despite dealing with cancer and chemo.  I even joked that they probably should throw me a parade for how I was able to handle everything as well as I did.

That’s the power of choosing to be seen.

Now, as a coach, I see so many accountants doing exactly what I used to do—working hard in silence and wondering why they feel stuck.

So if that’s you, I want to help. Start by taking The Smarter Accountant Quiz at www.thesmarteraccountant.com. It will help you see if you’re underutilizing your brain in ways you may not even realize. And once you do, you can schedule a free 30-minute call with me so we can talk about how to stop being the best kept secret.

Because being smart, capable, and hardworking is a great start. But being a Smarter Accountant? That’s when everything changes.

And of course, if you know another accountant who needs this message, please share this episode with them. The more of us who learn to work smarter—not harder—the better this profession becomes.

The truth is, you’re already smart. But this podcast will show you how to be smarter.