No matter how many achievements you make, it’s not as good as being seen.

No matter how many accomplishments you stack up, it doesn't compare to being seen—by the right people. The people who actually have the power to make decisions. Do they see you? What good is it if your own subordinates see you every day? Who among them can promote you?

When does an adult pull out a little notebook and pretend to take notes? Only in one situation: sucking up. The more accomplished you are, the more decorated your track record, the better the effect of acting like an elementary school student taking notes to impress them.

This is what's called playing the upper-tier game. When you're young, don't hang out with a bunch of peers at your same level—it's useless. None of them can decide your fate. In real life, have you ever seen a manager promoted because employees loved them instead of being liked by key clients and trusted by investors?

Only by facing those with higher energy levels, only by looking upward, can you gain an advantage.

In the East, management is like a secretary: the boss, the chairman—those who make decisions—while management handles implementation. If the boss won't decide, management will give them enough options to choose from. But they don't overstep their role.