A lot of experienced professionals think their biggest problem is visibility.
They think they need to:
- post more
- speak louder
- show up everywhere
They feel pressure to be seen.
But most of the time, visibility isn’t the issue.
The pressure to post more and be louder
What people are really experiencing isn’t invisibility. It’s uncertainty.
They’re not sure how to explain what they do anymore.
They’re not sure what they stand for now.
So they assume the solution is more exposure. More noise.
But noise and clarity aren’t the same thing.
What’s actually happening
The advice out there sounds something like this:
- “Post every day.”
- “Build your personal brand.”
- “Say more.”
And when that doesn’t work, the conclusion is usually:
“I’m not visible enough.”
A Personal Moment
I’ve been in that loop myself.
There was a period where I kept telling myself I should be posting more – on my blog here, on LinkedIn, on YouTube.
- More content.
- More frequency.
- And more opinions.
Not because I had something new to say, but because it felt like that’s what visibility required.
But noise and clarity aren’t the same thing.
The Foghorn Problem
Think of this like a foghorn.
A foghorn is loud. It makes a lot of noise.
But it doesn’t give direction. It doesn’t tell ships where to go.
It just announces anxiety into the fog.
A lot of visibility efforts look like that.
- Reactive.
- Noisy.
- Exhausting.
The Lighthouse Alternative
Now compare that to a lighthouse.
A lighthouse doesn’t move. It doesn’t chase ships.
It doesn’t shout. It stands still. And it shines.
Its job isn’t to get attention.
Its job is to be clear and reliable in one place.
And ships that need it adjust their course.
What this means for experienced professionals
This is the difference most experienced professionals miss.
A foghorn approach sounds like:
- “I need to say more.”
- “I need to be everywhere.”
- “I need to keep up.”
A lighthouse approach sounds like:
- “This is what I stand for.”
- “This is the problem I help with.”
- “This is how I think about it.”
People don’t follow volume. They follow signal.
Visibility is a byproduct
Visibility isn’t something you manufacture. It’s a byproduct.
It happens when:
- Your thinking is clear
- Your language is consistent
- And your point of view is recognisable
When people understand what you’re about, they don’t need convincing. They remember you.
A Quieter Solution
This is why everything we’ve talked about so far matters.
- Why explaining what you do matters.
- Why naming your work matters.
- Why integrating your experience matters.
- Why job titles stop working.
Until those things are clear, more visibility just amplifies confusion.
So if you’re tired of trying to be louder, pause.
- You don’t need to shout.
- You don’t need to chase.
- And you don’t need to perform.
You need clarity that holds.
Lighthouses don’t chase ships. They stand still and shine. And the right ships notice.
More on How to Monetize Your Expertise
For more on The Myths of Experience and how to monetize your expertise, read these blog posts next:
- Why Smart Professionals Can’t Explain What They Do
- Why Your Job Title Is Quietly Working Against You
- Knowledge Monetization – 5 Mistakes That Keep Experts Broke
