Let me tell you what won’t make you sought-after professionally:
Waking up at 5 AM. Clearing your inbox by 9. Meditating for 20 minutes!
Don’t get me wrong, those habits might make you productive.
But they won’t make you memorable or in-demand.
You’re super efficient. You’re reliable. Your energised. But you’re not distinctive.
And in a world where AI can handle the efficient and reliable parts?
Distinctive is everything.
Here’s what will make you stand out: doing three specific things that 99% of your peers aren’t doing.
The women who get tapped for opportunities, job offers, and promotions? They don’t just work hard. They work differently so they stand out.
Your real currency is your different perspective, your unique stories, your innate ability to see things others miss.
That’s what makes you irreplaceable. And that’s what these three habits build.
The 3 Influential Habits to Master
1. The “High-Value Input” Habit
What you do:
Before you check work email, spend 15 minutes reading something completely outside your industry.
Philosophy. Architecture. Psychology. Art history. Doesn’t matter—as long as it’s not related to your job.
Why it works:
A 15-year study found that Nobel Prize winners were 22 times more likely to have artistic hobbies than their peers.
Why? Because the best ideas come from cross-pollinating different fields.
Right now, everyone in your company is reading the same industry blogs, using the same buzzwords, thinking the same thoughts.
You? You’re pulling from philosophy to solve a business problem. You’re using architecture metaphors in a strategy meeting. You’re the one with a fresh angle when everyone else is stuck.
That’s what makes you the most interesting person in the room.
This week:
Pick one podcast, book, or blog outside your field. Consume 15 minutes before work. Notice what sparks.
2. The “Visibility Deposit” Habit
What you do:
Every week, share one contrarian opinion about your field.
Not a safe, agreeable take. Something bold. Something that makes people pause and think, “Huh, I never thought about it that way.”
This could be:
- A LinkedIn post that challenges the status quo
- An email to someone you admire where you respectfully disagree
- A comment in a meeting that reframes the entire problem
Why it works:
The internet operates on the “1% Rule”: 90% of people lurk, 9% comment, and only 1% create original content.
When you share your perspective publicly, you separate yourself from 99% of your peers who are staying silent.
Consistency builds authority. When you regularly show how you think, people start seeing you as someone to listen to—not just someone who gets tasks done.
Safe opinions make you forgettable. Bold ones make you sought-after.
This week:
Think of one thing everyone in your field believes that you quietly disagree with. Share it. One post. One email. One comment.
3. The “Story Capture” Practice
What you do:
Every Friday, write down one story from your week.
A win. A challenge you overcame. A moment that taught you something.
Just the headline and a few sentences. Keep it simple.
Why it works:
Research shows that facts wrapped in stories are 22 times more memorable than facts alone.
When you list your achievements, people forget them in five minutes. When you tell a story, they remember you.
Your stories are your proof. They’re the thing no one else can copy. And when opportunity knocks—when someone asks “Why should we hire you to speak?” or “What makes you different?”—you’ll have a bank of stories ready.
Facts tell. Stories sell.
This week:
Open a doc called “My Story Bank.” Write down one story from this week. That’s it. Start building your arsenal.
The Bottom Line is…
The women who become sought-after aren’t just working harder…they’re building their distinctiveness and reputation deliberately.
- High-value input gives you fresh perspective.
- Visibility deposits build your reputation.
- Story capture creates your proof.
These aren’t productivity hacks. They’re important influential habits.
Pick one. Start this week. Build from there.
Because being productive makes you efficient.
Being distinctive makes you unforgettable.
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