You’re hitting deadlines. Delivering quality work. Doing everything “right.”

So why does your boss still think you’re not committed?

In this episode of Success Subtext, I share a wake-up call from my placement year at IBM, when my manager told me I “didn’t seem like I wanted to be there”, even though my work was done on time.

That moment taught me a brutal truth about corporate life:

Optics and conduct can matter as much as output (if not more).

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why doing great work isn’t always enough for promotion

• The hidden signals your manager is reading every day

• The 3-part Conduct Audit

• How to stop signalling “intern energy” and start signalling “leader presence”

If you’ve ever felt overlooked, misunderstood, or confused about why others seem to get promoted faster, this is the missing layer no one teaches you.

This is the subtext of success.

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About the Podcast:
Success Subtext is hosted by Jag Dhaliwal, ACA (Chartered Accountant & Career Coach). Each week, we decode the hidden curriculum of corporate success, from promotion strategy and executive presence to visibility, politics, and long-term career leverage.

New episodes every Tuesday.

You work hard.

You’re reliable, helpful, across multiple projects, and are constantly busy.

But when promotion conversations happen, your name isn’t the obvious choice.

Why?

It’s not a productivity problem.

It’s a Signal problem.

In this episode of Success Subtext, I break down the difference between High Output and High Signal, and why doing more at work can actually reduce your promotion chances.

You’ll learn:

• Why working harder doesn’t guarantee promotion

• How managers really decide who gets promoted

• The hidden risk of being “helpful” across everything

• Why predictable impact matters more than effort

• How to shift from being impressive to being promotable

If you’ve ever wondered, “Why am I not getting promoted even though I work hard?”

This episode is for you.

I’m Jag Dhaliwal. Let’s keep looking at the subtext.

Ever wonder why your discipline keeps failing, despite all your best intentions? This episode #3 of Success Subtext reveals a critical truth: You don’t lack discipline. You lack self-trust. Breaking small promises to yourself quietly impacts your confidence and control.

Most high performers are reliable for everyone else but struggle to keep promises to themselves. Discipline isn’t about motivation or willpower. It’s about integrity and keeping your word, even when life is messy.

Jag Dhaliwal ACA runs a “Self-Audit” on your habits, showing how subtle gaps between intention and action chip away at confidence, and how 'Settled Decisions' can rebuild trust in yourself.

In this episode, we’ll dive deep into:

• The Self-Audit: Where Integrity Breaks Down
• Settled Decisions vs. Daily Negotiations
• Discipline as an Anchor in Hard Times
• Rebuilding Self-Trust

About Success Subtext: Hosted by Jag Dhaliwal ACA (Chartered Accountant & Career Coach), we decode the "hidden curriculum" of modern success that isn’t taught in school, uni, or at work. We cover strategies to get promoted faster, navigate corporate dynamics, and build a career and life you truly love.

Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday.