Who is the actor and co-star of That '70s Show that was once a biochemical engineering student at the University of Iowa?

[ Answer at the bottom ]

In today’s Career Ladder:

• Today’s Ladder: Good intentions. Bad politics.

• Framework: Office politics 101: Don’t do this.

• Takeaway: Stop losing to office politics.

• Resources: I waded through the mess so you can get the message.

• ICYMI: In case you missed these reader favorites...

• Career Ladder Intel: The career shifts changing the game - are you ready?

Today’s Ladder:

Good Intentions. Bad Politics.

What if the reason you feel overlooked at work has nothing to do with your performance…

And everything to do with the politics you’re ignoring?

For a long time, I told myself I hated “office politics.”

I thought if I just kept my head down and did great work, everything would work out.

It didn’t.

I watched others rise faster while I stayed stuck.

Not because they were smarter, but because they understood something I didn’t:

Politics isn’t a game you avoid. 

It’s a system you learn to navigate.

The turning point came when I realized the real danger wasn’t playing the game.

It was pretending the game didn’t exist.

Framework:

Office Politics 101: Don’t Do This

Here are the three biggest mistakes I made before I learned how to play it right:

1. Staying Invisible.
   I believed my work would speak for itself. It didn’t. Influence requires visibility.
   
   

2. Confusing Niceness with Strategy.
   Being kind is good. Being intentional is better. I learned to build genuine alliances, not just friendly connections.
   
   

3. Avoiding Conflict at All Costs.
   I used to retreat at the first sign of tension. Now I see that respectful disagreement builds trust and shows leadership potential.
   
   

Once I started engaging instead of avoiding, everything changed.

I learned to read the room, build credibility across teams, and protect my energy from unnecessary drama.

Workplace politics isn’t about manipulation.
It’s about navigation.

You don’t win the game by opting out. 

You win by learning the rules… and using them with integrity.

Here’s an ethical framework that could help.

Takeaway

Stop Losing to Office Politics

I’ll never forget the morning I saw his name on the promotion announcement.

Same role. Same department.
But his photo was on the company-wide email.

Mine wasn’t.

For a moment, it stung.
I worked hard. Met my targets. Stayed late when no one else did.

But instead of spiraling, I got curious.
What was he doing differently?

I started watching him closely.

• He spoke up in meetings.

• He shared his wins without sounding arrogant.

• He built visibility, not just results.

That was the day I realized:

Promotions don’t go to the hardest workers.
They go to the most positioned professionals.

That insight became the foundation for what I now teach inside this mini-workshop… how to get noticed, promoted, and paid without selling out your soul.

Resources:

• Never Eat Alone - focused on the importance of networking and relationships, this book provides insights on how to effectively connect with others in professional settings, which is key to navigating office politics

• How to Deal With Office Politics and Come Out on Top - office politics can either crush your career or catapult it forward. In this video, you’ll learn how to play the game strategically and win without losing your integrity.

• Promotion-Ready - this mini-workshop will teach you how to position yourself to get promoted and paid... without burning out or selling out.

ICYMI: Links to popular issues

🙋🏻‍♂️ Think You Know Your Leadership Style? Your personality might say otherwise.

✋ 5 Outdated Career Advice That Could Be Holding You Back

💼 The Productivity Hack That Gurus Don't Teach

Career Ladder Intel:

• Skill-based hiring is now preferred by 80% of employers over traditional degrees, especially in tech and digital roles - Read more

• The most significant job growth is forecast for roles such as farmworkers, delivery drivers, construction workers, salespersons, food processing workers, nursing professionals, social workers, personal care aides, and education professionals - Read more

DID YOU KNOW?

Ashton Kutcher enrolled at the University of Iowa in 1996. His plan at the time was to study biochemical engineering because his twin brother, Michael, was born with cerebral palsy and had a heart transplant. Ashton wanted to learn how to help find a cure for heart disease.

HEADS UP:

In next Sunday’s issue of Career Ladder you will discover… “How to Get Your Boss to Actually Listen to Your Ideas”

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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%.