(3-4 mins)

(3-4 mins)

See you next week,

Minal 

👋🏽 Hi! I’m Minal - a Career Success & Leadership Coach for 1st & 2nd gen professionals (immigrants, children/grandchildren of immigrants and professionals of color). I teach you how to translate your hard work into actual words your manager, skip and the C-Suite respect and reward, so your efforts turn into recognition, promotions, and pay raises ranging from $10K-$60K vs. a quick compliment, a pat on the back, and more work to do. All without working harder, finding a new job or pretending to be someone you're not. If you’re reading this and thinking, “Heck yeah… I need this,” reply to this email and let’s explore what working together could look like. 

🔥 If this hit home, share it with someone who spends more time sounding confident than being clear - and leaves meetings wondering why nothing moved forward. And if you haven’t subscribed yet, join Unmuted here 👇🏽 to get next week’s issue. You don't want to miss it!

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Last week, a client shared something with me that resonated hard and I want to share it with you because I think it’s incredibly common. After a meeting last week where they FINALLY spoke up, they shared that they replayed a single sentence in their head for hours. Not the whole meeting, not the big picture. Just one sentence. 

They’d spoken up, shared an idea, and then boom, the meeting ended. Everyone moved on. Meanwhile, their brain opened a brand-new tab and refused to close it. Did that sound dumb? Why did I phrase it like that? Should I have added more context? Did they think I was challenging them? Why didn’t I just stay quiet?

If you’ve ever said something in a meeting and then mentally reenacted it like a Netflix series you didn’t ask to binge… hi. You’re not broken. You’re human. And you’re definitely not alone.

I see this all the time with smart, capable professionals - especially first- and second-gen folks like me - who were taught, explicitly or implicitly, that speaking up is risky. Growing up, many of us learned that being “good” meant being polite, agreeable, and low-drama. You speak when spoken to. You don’t take up too much space. You definitely don’t say something that could be misunderstood.

So when you do speak up at work, even if it goes well, your nervous system doesn’t celebrate, it panics - because to your body, visibility feels like exposure. The spiral usually starts right after the moment passes. Your brain starts filling in gaps with worst-case interpretations. Silence becomes rejection, neutral faces become disapproval, and a lack of immediate praise becomes proof that you messed up.

But here’s the part no one tells you: most of that spiral has nothing to do with how you actually came across. It has everything to do with old conditioning meeting new expectations.

At work, leadership rewards people who can speak clearly, briefly, and without apology. But many of us were raised to believe that being safe meant explaining ourselves, softening our opinions, and making sure everyone was comfortable before we were.

So when YOU speak plainly, even once, your brain goes, “Wait… are we allowed to do that?” Cue the spiral. 

The shift isn’t about becoming more confident overnight or magically not caring what people think. It’s about learning how to close the loop after you speak.

One small thing that helps: stop grading your performance immediately. Instead of asking, “How did that sound?” try asking, “Did I say the thing I meant to say?” That’s it. No mind-reading required.

Another helpful reframe: notice how rarely you dissect other people’s comments the way you dissect your own. Think about the last meeting you were in. Can you remember exactly how someone else phrased their idea? Probably not. You remember the point, not the delivery. Everyone else is doing the same with you.

And here’s a big one: spiraling doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have spoken. It often means you said something that mattered and you just need more practice. The more you do it, the less you worry and eventually you stop spiraling and start thinking about how to participate more. 

Growth is uncomfortable and visibility has a nervous system cost before it has a career payoff. That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it. It most definitely is. 

Over time, the spiral gets quieter, shorter, and less convincing. And one day, you’ll realize you spoke up… and then went about your day without spiraling (like you always wanted to) and that’s when you know something has shifted.

If this made you feel uncomfortably seen, you’re in good company.

And if someone popped into your head while reading this - the one who does great work but beats themselves up every time they open their mouth - forward this to them. They’ll feel less alone and honestly, that’s a gift.

When do you notice yourself spiraling the most? I love hearing these stories.

See you next week,

Minal 

👋🏽 Hi! I’m Minal - a Career Success & Leadership Coach for 1st & 2nd gen professionals (immigrants, children/grandchildren of immigrants and professionals of color). I teach you how to translate your hard work into actual words your manager, skip and the C-Suite respect and reward, so your efforts turn into recognition, promotions, and pay raises ranging from $10K-$60K vs. a quick compliment, a pat on the back, and more work to do. All without working harder, finding a new job or pretending to be someone you're not. If you’re reading this and thinking, “Heck yeah… I need this,” reply to this email and let’s explore what working together could look like. 

🔥 If this resonated, share it with someone who does great work but beats themselves up every time they open their mouth. And if you haven’t subscribed yet, join Unmuted here 👇🏽 to get next week’s issue. You don't want to miss it!

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Hi! And happy New Year.

I’m not big on New Year’s resolutions, and I’m definitely not here to tell you how to become the “best version of yourself” at work. Most of us don’t need more self-improvement advice. We actually need fewer things that make our jobs harder than they already are.

So this month, I want to focus on something that actually moves the needle in your career: communication that lands. The kind of communication that helps people understand you, trust you, and see your leadership without working longer hours or over-preparing.

Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: communication that lands will move you forward faster than hard work ever will.

Today, I want to take you back to early-career Minal. At the start of my career, I thought meetings were tests. Not the kind you studied for with flashcards, but the kind where you proved, in real time, that you deserved to be there. That you weren’t there by accident. That someone hadn’t made a mistake by inviting you into the room.

So whenever I spoke, I came prepared. Very prepared. Honestly, probably too prepared. I didn’t just answer the question that was asked. I answered the question, plus the follow-up, plus the thing someone might ask next, plus the backstory that explained how I got there in the first place. I layered my thinking the way you layer winter clothes, just in case.

And while I was talking, a quiet part of my brain was always watching the room, scanning faces, asking: Do they get it? Do I sound smart enough? Do they believe me? Do they think I belong yet? 

If I stopped too soon, I worried they’d think I was shallow. If I simplified too much, I worried they’d think I didn’t know enough. If I paused, I worried someone would jump in and take the floor before I’d made my case. So I filled the space. Every time.

I remember one meeting in particular where I’d walked everyone through my entire line of reasoning, complete with examples, edge cases, and explanations I thought made me sound thorough and thoughtful. When I finally stopped, my manager nodded and said, very kindly, “This is good. Next time, just get to the point.”

I smiled and said okay, but inside I felt exposed. Because what I heard wasn’t get to the point — it was you didn’t need all of that. And that was terrifying.

Because somewhere along the way, I’d internalized the idea that if I wasn’t explaining, justifying, or adding context, then I wasn’t demonstrating value. That being clear was risky and that being concise left open the possibility of being misunderstood.

It took me years - and watching a lot of other people communicate - to realize something important: The people who were most trusted in the room weren’t doing more explaining. They weren’t working harder to sound smart. They weren’t racing to prove anything at all. They spoke calmly, they answered the question that was asked, they stopped when they were done, and if someone wanted more, they let them ask for it. They didn’t perform, they didn’t overexplain and they certainly didn’t ask for approval. 

What I finally understood is that overexplaining isn’t a communication style. It’s a self-protection strategy to mask self-doubt, imposter syndrome or a fear that you don’t belong. And if you grew up needing to be extra prepared, extra careful, or extra “good” to be taken seriously, that fear makes a lot of sense.

But here’s the quiet truth most of us never get told: clarity doesn’t erase your intelligence. It reveals it.

When you say less and mean it, people listen differently. They stop trying to keep up and start paying attention. They trust that if they need more, you’ll provide it. And they begin to experience you not as someone trying to convince them, but as someone who knows where they’re going.

These days, when I catch myself slipping into prove-it mode, I pause and ask a different question: What does this person actually need to understand so we can move forward?  

Not what will make me feel safe or what will cover every possible angle. Just what matters right now. Often, the answer is one sentence. And I stop there. If they want more, they can ask for it and I’ll give more. If they don’t, I let it be enough.

So if you’ve ever walked out of a meeting feeling like you said too much, or replayed a conversation wondering why you couldn’t just get to the point, you’re not doing anything wrong. You’re just trying to protect yourself in a system that taught you to equate worth with effort.

This week, try something small. Answer the question you’re asked - and then stop. Let the silence sit for a beat. Trust that you don’t need to prove what’s already true.

And if this made you think, Oh… that’s me, you’re not alone. I see you. And I promise, your intelligence doesn’t disappear when you stop explaining it. It actually starts to shine brighter.

Where do you notice yourself over-explaining the most? I love hearing these stories.

Here’s to a healthy, happy and successful 2026. Let’s start the year communicating in a way that actually lands.

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For the longest time, I thought there were only two options when it came to talking about my work: Say nothing and hope people notice OR talk about it and feel deeply uncomfortable. Neither option worked particularly well.

Silence made me invisible and the few times I did talk about my work, I’d walk away replaying it in my head, thinking, “Ugh. Did that sound braggy? Did I overdo it? Why did I even say anything?”

If you were raised to believe that humility equals goodness and self-promotion equals arrogance, this tension probably feels familiar. But over time, and after watching who actually gained trust, got promoted, and got pulled into bigger conversations, I realized something important. The people who advanced weren’t bragging. They were telling better stories.

Why Bragging Feels So Bad

Bragging feels gross because it’s self-centered. It focuses on you - how hard you worked, how smart you were, how much you did. There’s no context, no relevance and no connection to the bigger picture. So your nervous system goes, “Nope, not safe.” That discomfort is actually useful information. It’s telling you that bragging isn’t the move, but it’s not telling you to stay silent either.

There’s a third option.

What Strategic Storytelling Actually Is

Strategic storytelling isn’t hype or exaggeration, and it definitely isn’t chest-thumping. It’s simply this: explaining what you did, why it mattered, and what it changed. That’s it. When you do that, you’re not asking for praise, you’re helping people understand how the work connects to outcomes.

For example: Instead of,  “I worked really hard on this project.” Try:  “I led this project to solve X, and it resulted in Y, which unblocked Z for the team.” Same work. Different frame. One sounds like you want credit and the other sounds like you understand the business.

The Moment This Finally Clicked for Me

I remember sitting in a meeting years ago, listening to a colleague talk through an update. She didn’t sound flashy and she wasn’t overly confident but still everyone paid attention. I wondered why for a while and then it hit me. It was because she told a clear story. She shared the problem that she noticed, the decision she made and what changed as a result. There was no drama, no over explaining. She didn’t go on endlessly just to hear the sound of her own voice. And that was the moment I realized that people aren’t allergic to hearing about your work. They’re allergic to not understanding why it matters.

Effort vs. Impact (This Is Where Most People Get Stuck)

Many high performers talk about effort because effort feels safe. “I stayed late;” “I worked all weekend;” “It took longer than expected.” But as I’ve been mentioning both in these newsletters and on LinkedIn, leaders talk about impact: What moved forward, what risk was reduced, what decision became easier, and what outcome improved. This shift alone can change how you’re perceived. Because effort says, I tried and impact says, I delivered (without bragging).

How to Practice Strategic Storytelling (Without Feeling Weird)

Think in this simple sequence: Problem → Action → Impact → What’s next

You can use this anywhere. In meetings, updates, performance reviews, Slack, emails.

Here’s an example:  “We were seeing delays in onboarding (problem), so I rebuilt the process (action). That cut onboarding time by three days (impact), and next I’m testing it with the enterprise accounts (what’s next).”

Why This Works (Especially for 1st & 2nd Gen Professionals)

This Week’s Reflection + Action

Pick one moment this week where you’d normally downplay your work. Instead of staying quiet or talking about effort, tell a short story. What were you solving for? What did you do? What changed because of it and what is going to happen next?

Try it once. Then notice: Did people ask better questions? Did the conversation move faster? Did you feel more grounded talking about your work?

Like I said last week, visibility is a muscle and every rep counts.

Reply and tell me when you’re going to try this and the outcome you’re hoping for. I love hearing from you.

👋🏽 Hi! I’m Minal - a Career Success & Leadership Coach for 1st & 2nd gen professionals (the first in your family to build a career here or the child of immigrants balancing two cultures). I help you move past outdated work advice, communicate with confidence and clarity, and show up as a strong, credible leader so that you can earn promotions (and raises) faster without burning out, shrinking yourself, or pretending to be someone you’re not. If that sounds interesting to you, reply to this email to see how we can work together.

🔥 If this resonated with you, share it with someone who does incredible work but still struggles to talk about it. And if you haven’t subscribed yet, join Unmuted here 👇🏽 to get next week’s issue. You don't want to miss it!

See you next week,

Minal 

(3-4 mins)

I have a little confession: For years, I hated talking about my work. Not because I wasn’t proud of it or because I didn’t have an impact. But because every time I tried to explain what I’d done, it felt awkward, forced and like I was tiptoeing between “sharing” and praying that people didn’t think I was bragging. 

If you grew up first- or second-gen like me (the first in your family to build a career here, or the child of immigrants balancing two cultures), you probably know this feeling too. We weren’t raised to spotlight ourselves, we were raised to stay humble, work hard, avoid drawing attention to ourselves, let others shine, and trust that people will notice. 

Except in corporate America, people don’t notice, they assume. And silence gets misread every day. Quiet translates to satisfied, reserved translates to unsure, and being humble translates to not being ready. It took me too long to realize that my silence wasn’t humility, it was self-erasure, and it was costing me opportunities, credibility, and visibility I had already earned. So I started paying attention.

.

And here’s what clicked:

1. They didn’t talk about themselves or their effort, they talked about outcomes. 

They didn’t say, “I worked really hard on this.” They said, “Here’s the impact this had.” The energy was never “look at me.” It was “here’s what moved the team forward.” They explained the impact rather than the effort because that’s what gave people an understanding of what happened and how to move forward. No one really cares how long it took you or how many iterations you created before the final one. They just want to know that you accomplished the task and the impact it had so they then know how to move forward. Impact over effort.

2. They always explained why their work mattered. 

Before I learned this, I used to give updates like I was reading a grocery list: “I built the deck;” “I ran the analysis;” or “I sent the report.” Was it clear? Sure. Was it strategic? Absolutely not. Leaders explain why it matters: “This insight helped unblock the product team and speed up the next milestone.” When you understand the why, it helps inform the next move and how to go about it successfully rather than taking blind shots in the dark.

3. They talked about their work like they were letting people in, not bragging about themselves. 

The people who do this well sound almost… casual. They come across as curious and thoughtful. They say things like: “Here’s what I was solving for…” or “Here’s what surprised me…” or “Here’s what I’m paying attention to next…” It’s not performative or polished. It’s just what they’re actually thinking. It’s real and as a result people lean in because it feels like they’re being given insight, not being pitched or commanded.

4. Their language was clear, not loud or not fancy. 

The leaders I admired didn’t dominate rooms, they guided them. Phrases like: “Here’s what I recommend…; ” “Here’s the risk I’m tracking…;” and “Here’s what needs a decision…” These phrases all signify leadership even when said quietly or almost especially when said silently because no one is trying to prove their worth. This one was a game-changer for me: presence isn’t volume, it’s clarity.

5. They practiced visibility in small, consistent, low-pressure ways. 

The people who hate talking about their work tend to wait until they have to, whether that’s in a promotion cycle, a review, or a crisis. But the leaders I studied didn’t treat visibility as a moment, they treated it as daily or weekly maintenance with quick updates, small check-ins and short summaries. It wasn’t to brag, it was to keep people informed and moving forward. And that’s when I realized, talking about your work isn’t self-promotion. It’s just good communication and everyone benefits when you do it.

This Week’s Reflection + Action

Pick one moment this week to talk about your work in a way that feels natural:

• Share the outcome, not the effort

• Add one sentence about why your work mattered

• Tell a tiny “behind the scenes” detail

• Use a leadership phrase like “Here’s what I recommend next”

• Give a short update about something you moved forward

Try it once, just once and notice: Did people listen differently?  Did you feel more grounded? Did someone give you credit you usually don’t get? Did you feel less… cringe-y?

Visibility is a muscle that needs to be exercised more regularly than you think. Every rep counts.

Reply and tell me which one you’re going to try this week - and the outcome you’re hoping for. I love hearing from you.

👋🏽 Hi! I’m Minal - a Career Success & Leadership Coach for 1st & 2nd gen professionals (the first in your family to build a career here or the child of immigrants balancing two cultures). I help you move past outdated work advice, communicate with confidence and clarity, and show up as a strong, credible leader so that you can earn promotions (and raises) faster without burning out, shrinking yourself, or pretending to be someone you’re not. If that sounds interesting to you, reply to this email to see how we can work together.

🔥 If this resonated with you, send it to someone who works hard but hates talking about their work — the person everyone respects but not enough leaders see.. And if you haven’t subscribed yet, join Unmuted here 👇🏽 to get next week’s issue. You don't want to miss it!

See you next week,

Minal