Hard Work Alone Is a Myth: Self-Promotion Will Get You There

Stefanie Sword-Williams is the founder of F*ck Being Humble, a platform challenging women to own their achievements without apology. As a champion for self-advocacy, she's transformed how thousands approach their careers, moving from quiet competence to confident visibility.

In this candid piece, Stefanie shares her hard-won wisdom on the art of self-promotion and why staying silent might be the biggest career mistake women make.

I’ve spent years championing one message for women: F*ck being humble. Too often, women downplay their achievements, waiting to be noticed instead of taking up space.

But the reality is, staying quiet won’t get us where we deserve to be. It’s time to own our achievements, take control of our careers, and embrace self-pride as a force for success.

Your Hard Work Won’t Speak for Itself

I used to believe the myth: "If you work hard, you’ll go far."

But like so many of us, I've found that hard work alone isn’t enough. I’ve seen firsthand that the people who get ahead aren’t just the hardest workers, they’re the ones who self-promote.

We wait, expecting our efforts to be noticed, but here’s the truth: if you don’t speak up for yourself, no one else will.

Hard work deserves recognition, but it’s self-promotion that ensures you get it.

In the UK, especially, self-promotion is seen as uncomfortable, something to be avoided. We’re not taught how to do it effectively, so we fear looking arrogant. But self-promotion isn’t about ego. It’s about making sure your hard work is seen.

Make Sure They Know What You Bring to the Table

Early in my career, I worked long hours, gave 110%, and still felt overlooked at review time.

The truth? If you don’t vocalize your progress, it’s easy to be ignored. Your boss isn’t tracking your every move, and expecting recognition without advocating for yourself is a losing game. Once I realized this, I made it my mission to document my achievements and embrace self-promotion fully.

Self-Promotion Isn’t Selfish

If you don’t shape your own narrative, someone else will do it for you. Self-promotion is just another form of storytelling: it’s about owning your achievements and making sure your hard work is seen. It’s not arrogance; it’s advocacy. Instead of focusing on bad examples, find people whose approach you admire and learn from them.

Years ago I heard someone say,

What’s more important - your ego or your impact?

Let's hear that one more time: What’s more important - your ego or your impact?

I remind myself of this every time I hesitate to promote my work. Because when you advocate for yourself, you inspire others to do the same.

Shameless (and Effective) Self-Promotion

1. Be clear on your goal. Knowing what you want helps shape your message and strategy. Attach an end goal to your self-promotion - it will keep you motivated and focused.
2. Make it a habit. Set weekly or monthly time slots to reflect on your wins so they don’t get lost in the noise. Step away from your desk, go for a coffee, and intentionally acknowledge your progress.
3. Make it easy. Pre-schedule LinkedIn posts, create a pitch deck, or send a simple weekly recap email to your boss outlining what you’ve accomplished. Small actions build momentum.
4. Take pride in what you do. In the UK, it’s often cooler to be self-deprecating than proud of our work. This needs to change. Instead of small talk before meetings, share a recent win. These moments add up!

When Self-Doubt Creeps In, Try This:

• Keep a ‘Proud Moments’ folder. Create a space (I have a photo album on my phone) where you save feedback, achievements, and milestones. When imposter syndrome creeps in, revisit it as a reminder of how far you’ve come and why you deserve to take up space. It’s a powerful way to quiet self-doubt and reinforce your accomplishments.
• Find your cheerleaders. It's so important to have a small but solid hype crowd - people you can turn to for encouragement, guidance, and a well-earned celebration when you achieve something big.
• Say yes before you’re ready. Women often wait until they feel “perfect” to act, but confidence comes from doing, not waiting. I wasn’t an “expert” when I wrote my book. I just said yes, and that decision changed everything!

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So stop waiting. Own your story, share your wins, and step into the space you deserve.

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