Don’t Listen Like I Did

Not every advice is good for your career.

When I was in the second grade, I received the worst advice of my life.

It came from a teacher who meant well but didn’t understand the impact of his words. Instead of helping me grow, he pushed me into silence.

“You need to be more humble. Stop talking about yourself. Stay quiet and let your work speak for you.”

I was eight years old. I had simply raised my hand to share that I felt proud of my homework. That small moment of confidence led Mr. Vargas to pull me aside and give me a lesson in “humility.”

From that day on, I started thinking twice before raising my hand. I shrank. I convinced myself that speaking up was showing off. I believed that sharing what I was good at would bother people.

It took years to undo that damage.

Because real life doesn’t work the way he described. And the broadcasting industry definitely doesn’t work that way.

In school, the kids who knew how to talk about their work got the best opportunities.

In sports, the teammates who were willing to step forward were chosen for the big moments.

And during my teenage years, confidence opened more doors than silence ever did.

My early broadcasting career made this even clearer. The colleagues who promoted their work were the ones getting the calls, the bonuses, and the best assignments. Not because they were the absolute best, but because people rememberedthem.

One day, after asking a colleague how he managed it, he told me something that stayed with me:

“You have to become your number one fan. If you don’t speak about your skills, no one will know what you can do.”

This was the opposite of what I learned in the second grade. And it was much closer to reality.

Today’s market is more competitive than ever. Talented people are everywhere, all aiming for the same roles. Staying quiet isn’t humility anymore. It’s self-sabotage.

Here are five actions that can change everything for you:

1. Become your own ambassador and share your work so others can see what you bring.

2. Stay top of mind so people remember you when opportunities appear.

3. Advocate for yourself with integrity, without comparing yourself to others.

4. Ask for feedback often, so people understand your strengths and where you can grow.

5. Help people around you, without expecting anything in return.

These five habits open more doors than any technical skill alone. They make your career intentional, visible, and more resilient.

So here is my invitation to you:

Stop watching others get ahead just because they speak up.

Stop waiting for someone to “discover” you.

Stop assuming your work speaks for itself.

Start speaking for yourself.

Start showing your skills with confidence.

Start becoming the person people think of first.

Do it with respect. Do it with kindness. Do it with integrity.

If you do, opportunities will grow, your reputation will spread, and recognition will feel normal instead of rare.

And most importantly, ignore the advice I heard in the second grade. It was wrong then and it’s even more wrong now.

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• For those who asked for more details about my course “The Global Business of Sports Productions” here you have a video with all the details. Remember that if you are a subscriber of The Ministry of Broadcasting you can get a special price in this link.

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