What is the original meaning of the word, “boss”?

[ Answer at the bottom ]

In today’s Career Ladder:

• Today’s Ladder: Promotions are not random.

• Framework: What top performers secretly do.

• Takeaway: Your boss notices this first.

• Resources: I filtered out the fluff. Here’s the gold.

• ICYMI: Back by popular demand: top past editions.

• Career Ladder Intel: Career news and trends you can’t afford to ignore.

Today’s Ladder:

Promotions Aren’t Random

What if your boss has already decided who to promote…

And the choice isn’t based on performance reviews at all?

Like many, I was taught promotions were earned through results:

• Hit your goals. 

• Stay dependable. 

• Be the go-to person.

But that wasn’t what I saw happening in the modern workplace.

Some people got promoted even when their numbers weren’t the best.

Others stayed stuck, even though they carried the team.

So I started paying attention.
And what I discovered surprised me.

Promotion decisions aren’t just about skill.
They’re about signals.

Subtle cues that tell leadership… “You are already operating at the next level.”

Framework:

What Top Performers Secretly Do

Here are three hidden signals that made all the difference for me:

1. You lead without the title.
   You don’t wait for authority to add value. You take ownership, guide others, and solve problems proactively.
   
   

2. You communicate like a peer, not a subordinate.
   You keep your manager informed, share solutions, and speak with clarity and confidence.
   
   

3. You make your wins visible.
   You don’t brag, but you do ensure your results are seen. Visibility isn’t vanity; it’s proof of readiness.
   
   

Once I started showing these signals consistently, everything changed.

The conversations with leadership shifted from “what I do” to “what I’m ready for.”

Because readiness isn’t declared. It’s demonstrated.

Promotions aren’t requested. They’re recognized.

Here’s the framework I used to get promotion-ready.

Takeaway

Your Boss Notices This First

Halfway through my presentation to the board, my laptop screen went black.

No warning. No saving grace. Just silence.

For a split second, panic rose in my chest.
Every instinct told me to freeze, apologize, or fumble for a fix.

But instead, I took a deep breath and kept going.

• No slides. 

• No visuals. 

• Just presence.

I hit every key point from memory: data, insights, and takeaways…

While keeping eye contact with the room.

When it was over, the board members nodded, impressed.

But I walked out thinking I had barely survived.

She did not tell me then but months later, my boss told me, 

“That was the moment I knew you were ready for the next level.”

That day taught me something powerful:

Systems prepare you. 

Willpower sustains you. 

But presence elevates you.

Learn the whole framework I used in less than an hour here.

You can’t always control what fails…

But you can control how you show up when it does.

Resources:

• Managing Oneself - a classic by management guru, Peter Drucker. This book teaches professionals to better understand their strengths, values, and professional fit—a foundational aspect of making sure you’re ready, visible, and positioned for your next promotion.

• Position Yourself for a Promotion - this video is comprehensive workshop covering strategic planning, self-advocacy, and the essential steps to ask for and achieve a promotion

• Promotion-Ready - a mini-workshop that teaches you how to position yourself for your next promotion… without selling out or burning out.

ICYMI: Links to popular issues

⛔️ How to Handle Burnout... Without Quitting Your Job

🤝 Commandment #9: Your Network Is Your Future

🙋🏻‍♀️ How to Navigate Office Politics Without Losing Your Integrity

Career Ladder Intel:

• Over 257,000 layoffs occurred in the United States alone in the first four months of 2025, and similar trends are seen in Europe and Asia- Read more

• Tech roles (big data specialists, fintech engineers, AI and machine learning specialists and software developers) are the fastest-growing in percentage terms, with demand for these roles expected to surge over 20% in coming years - Read more

DID YOU KNOW?

The word “boss” comes from the Dutch “baas,” meaning master.

HEADS UP:

In next Sunday’s issue of Career Ladder you will discover… “The Most Dangerous Workplace Politics Mistakes You’re Probably Making.”

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MISSION:

Career Ladder helps motivated professionals grow their career and income in half the time by sharing career strategies used by the top 1%.