"That difference stuck with me. Because years later, I see it everywhere: Many founders chase visibility before they build foundations. Visibility is seductive It's easy to focus on what looks good from the outside. A flashy website. A polished LinkedIn announcement. A big funding headline. And yes-awards. The appeal is obvious. Recognition feels good. It validates the sacrifices you've made. It gets people's attention. And in many cases, visibility can even buy time-helping attract investors, talent, or customers."
"I get it. The temptation is real. But it's also a trap. Visibility is a sugar high. It looks great from the outside while the foundation underneath stays shaky. Here's the simple test I use to determine if it's visibility or foundation: If the thing I'm working on would look great in a press release but doesn't move the business forward in six months, it's visibility-not foundation."
"After the spotlight dims Earlier this year, I accepted the SBA Person of the Year award, and more recently Steady made the Inc. 5000 list for the second year. It was an incredible moment-for me, for my family, and for our team. We'd built this company from scratch, and the recognition was deeply meaningful. But the morning after, nothing magical had changed. The inbox was full. Subcontractors needed answers. Schedules were slipping. The cameras had turned off, and the work was exactly the same."
Many founders prioritize outward visibility over building durable business foundations. Some founders spend time polishing appearances while others focus on selling, iterating, and earning initial revenue. Visibility can attract attention, investors, talent, and short-term runway, but it can also mask weak foundations and create a misleading sugar high. A practical test distinguishes visibility from foundation: if an activity looks great in a press release but does not move the business forward within six months, it is visibility, not foundation. Awards and recognition reflect progress but do not replace the sustained work required to grow the business.
Read at Inc
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