Chapter 36 - Build a Career of Honor, Not Hype

Imani Rhodes

Picture this: The conference just ended. You’ve got the main ballroom, lights still hot, applause echoing off the walls. Two people leave. One’s the keynote—big smile, everyone’s clapping, cameras flashing. The other? Just a quiet person in a blazer, slipping out the side door, no fanfare. Now, Miles, guess which one had five job offers in their inbox by sunrise?

Miles Carter

I mean, you want to say the one with the standing ovation, right? But I know where you’re going. It’s the quiet one, isn’t it?

Imani Rhodes

Exactly. And here’s why. That quiet person didn’t spend the weekend polishing one speech—they spent the last three years building a reputation. They were the one who stayed late to help with the project nobody wanted. The one who sent the recap that made everyone else look sharp in front of the client. The one who never needed the spotlight but made sure the spotlight worked for the people who had it. See, hype might impress the crowd in the moment. But honor? That earns you the respect of the people who actually matter—the coworkers, the teammates, the clients. The ones who know you’re the fuel behind the performance. That’s why the offers came pouring in. Not because they were flashy on stage, but because they were always steady off stage. And that’s the kind of career that lasts.

Miles Carter

Wow, and the research actually backs that up. Harvard Business Review found that leaders known for being principled—like, actually reliable, not just outgoing—were two and a half times more likely to get long-term opportunities than the self-promoters. Gallup says trust and dependability outrank technical skill and charisma for engagement. It’s not about being the loudest in the room. It’s about being the one people count on when the room’s empty.

Imani Rhodes

That’s so real. I remember this moment—years ago, I was working late, and a colleague had a total crisis. I didn’t announce it, didn’t talk about it, just stayed and helped. Months later, that same person recommended me for a project that changed my whole career. No applause, no spotlight, just a quiet gesture that stuck. It’s like Adam Grant says in Give and Take—givers who play the long game, not the martyrs, are the ones who rise steadily.

Miles Carter

And Jim Collins, too—Level 5 leaders, right? Humility plus fierce resolve. They’re not out there chasing every headline. They’re building something that lasts. I always tell people, hype is a sugar rush. Honor is slow-burning fuel. You want the kind of career where, when you’re not in the room, people still speak well of you. That’s when you know you’re building right.

Imani Rhodes

It’s the compounding interest of character. Every small, positive choice adds up. And that’s the stuff people remember years later—not the LinkedIn posts, not the big speeches, but the way you showed up when it mattered. So, let’s dig into what honor actually looks like in practice, because it’s not just a nice word—it’s a daily habit.

Miles Carter

Alright, let’s break it down. Honor isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about reliability—showing up when it’s inconvenient, telling the truth when it’s costly, keeping promises even when nobody’s watching. Harvard Business Review found that integrity-driven reputations lead to more promotions and peer advocacy than self-promotion. It’s the small daily acts that build trust over time.

Imani Rhodes

Let’s do a quick roleplay, Miles. You’re interviewing for a promotion. I’ll be the hiring manager. Ready?

Miles Carter

Let’s go. “So, Miles, why should we pick you for this role?”

Imani Rhodes

“Well, we’ve had some big wins, but, what I’m proudest of is showing up for my team. Over the last three years, I’ve never missed a deadline, and I’ve built systems that make everyone’s job easier. I’ve also made it a point to support others’ success, even if it meant staying late or giving up credit. I’m not here for the spotlight—I’m here to make the team better.”

Miles Carter

See, that’s it. No hype, just steady value. And it’s not just in offices. Think about a nurse who remembers every patient’s name. Or an IT tech who stays late to fix a system before a client’s launch. Or a server who brings crackers for a fussy toddler before anyone asks. Those are the people who get remembered, who get referred, who get the next opportunity.

Imani Rhodes

And it’s not about being a doormat, either. It’s about owning your impact. Warren Buffett puts it bluntly—he looks for three things: integrity, intelligence, and energy. But if you don’t have integrity, the other two will kill you. Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander who led the D-Day invasion before serving as U.S. President, said it plainly: “The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible. "James Kerr, in his book Legacy on the legendary New Zealand All Blacks rugby team—the most dominant and disciplined team in sports history—drives this point home. Kerr isn’t writing about locker-room slogans; he’s chronicling a culture so tough that even its stars “sweep the sheds” after a match, because no one is too big to do the small things. That’s the difference between hype and honor. Hype fills a room; honor fills a résumé. And honestly, if you want to build a career that lasts, you have to practice these habits every day, not just when it’s easy.

Miles Carter

Absolutely. So let’s get super practical. Tomorrow, keep one small promise you’ve been putting off. Write a thank-you note to someone who helped you. In your next meeting, listen twice as much as you speak. This week, offer help to a coworker without being asked—don’t announce it. Document a process improvement and share it. These are the things that build your reputation, brick by brick.

Imani Rhodes

And if you want to go deeper, ask three trusted peers for one word they’d use to describe your reputation. Look for the gap between how you see yourself and how others see you. That’s where the real growth happens. Honor is just doing the right thing, again and again, when it would be easier not to. That’s how you build trust that compounds over time.

Miles Carter

And don’t forget, this isn’t just theory. We’ve seen it in every field—accountants who admit their own errors, construction leads who fix things the client never noticed, teachers who show up for the tough kids. It’s universal. And it’s what makes you unforgettable, long after the hype dies down.

Imani Rhodes

So, as you’re listening, think about your own “small moment” test. What’s one thing you can do today that nobody will see, but everyone will feel? That’s where honor lives. And that’s what sets you apart.

Imani Rhodes

Alright, let’s get real. Picture your “career eulogy.” I know, it sounds a little heavy, but stick with me. What’s the one sentence you want people to use to sum you up? Not your job title, not your follower count—just the way you showed up. Flip anxiety into motivation. What are three small acts you’ll do tomorrow to start building that sentence?

Miles Carter

And don’t just think about it—write it down. Keep every small promise. Show up prepared, especially when no one’s watching. Choose team over convenience. Invest in people without keeping score. As John Wooden reminded his players, “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” These are your honor habits.

Imani Rhodes

And here’s the thing—when the applause fades, and it will, you’ll still be standing, because you weren’t leaning on the noise. Flash fades. Consistency and character leave a legacy. That’s the career you want. One where people talk about you for the right reasons, long after the hype dies.

Miles Carter

So here’s your challenge: Before tomorrow’s over, do one thing—just one—that builds your honor, not your hype. Then, share your story in the comments. Tell us about a time you took the long road and it paid off, or a small act that built trust in your workplace. The action items are what make this real. Don’t just listen—do. That’s how you get better, and that’s how we all get better together.

Imani Rhodes

And use the community. Seriously. Share your “honor over hype” story, ask for feedback, or drop a thank-you to someone who’s had your back. Think of it as a gym membership for your career—your reps happen here.

Miles Carter

This is the final chapter of Speak, Think, Serve, but the journey’s nowhere near done. We’re already deep into the next book, building the next set of tools, stories, and challenges—so you can keep getting stronger, chapter by chapter.

Imani Rhodes

So keep going. Keep grinding. Keep learning. Build your success on honor. Go build. Go serve. Go lead. Because flash fades—but consistency and character? They leave a legacy.

Miles Carter

Don’t just chase the spotlight. Carry the light with-you. Into your family. Onto your team. Into every room you walk into.

Imani Rhodes

This isn’t the end. This is the start of something bigger. A lifelong journey.

Miles Carter

Lifelong journey, friends. Let’s walk it together. Now get out there. Honor over hype. Legacy over flash. Let’s go!