Recently, while feeding my toddler a strawberry, I slowly repeated the word “berry”... only to be corrected by a stranger sitting next to me. Fast forward... and here we have today's story and unspoken rule!

TODAY’S TAKEAWAY

Titles don’t define you. Impact does.

Your job title is just a label. What really matters is the value you create, the problems you solve, and the impact you make every day.

THE STORY

A surprising grocery store fact

If you’re like me, you’ve probably also assumed that “strawberries” are berries (like it says in the name).

But as it turns out, strawberries aren't actually berries—but bananas are.

Here’s what I learned on a recent dog walk:

• A berry is “a fleshy fruit produced from a single flower containing one ovary.”

• In other words, the seeds and pulp must develop from the ovary of a flower, and the seeds are usually embedded in the fleshy interior.

Based on that definition? Bananas, cucumbers, kiwis, and even eggplants all qualify as berries.

Meanwhile, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries—despite their names and appearances—don't make the cut. 

Why? They're actually “aggregate fruits” because they're derived from a single flower with more than one ovary.

It seems arbitrary until I remember that science doesn't care what something looks like. It cares how it's formed.

And yes, in classic Gorick fashion, I think that's a pretty accurate metaphor for your career. (Let me explain…)

THE UNSPOKEN RULE

It’s not your title that defines you, it’s your impact

We often assume that job titles reflect value.

A “Senior Manager” must be more capable than a “Coordinator,” right?

But just like the banana doesn't look like a berry (yet technically is), your job title doesn't always reflect the depth of your work or the impact you have.

Whether it’s “Copywriter,” “Analyst,” or “Assistant,” job titles are merely quick, convenient summaries to help others understand where you fit.

But they rarely tell the full story.

They don't capture your judgment, your initiative, your ideas, and moreover, your impact.

Maybe you're a copywriter who didn’t just write copy, but also did customer segmentation analysis for a $10M brand and even built a new content approval workflow that 3 clients now use. 

If you don’t sell it, no one would ever know.

Or take the assistant who didn’t just manage calendars but who also organized a major summit, built a new task management system used by a team of 12, and hired and trained an outsourced social media manager. 

Again: No one would know unless you said it!

So…

• The next time you’re asked to introduce yourself in a meeting… don’t just stop at your job title. Tell them, “I lead*…” (followed by what you actually do).

• The next time you’re asked to walk someone through your resume… don’t just read off the page. Tell them, “At [organization], I led* [this project] which [achieved these results].”

• The next time you’re updating your resume… don’t just use “Technician II” if this means nothing to anyone outside of your team (if they even remember it). Write “Cybersecurity Analyst” if that’s actually the role you were playing and anyone you’d ask for a future reference would agree.

Remember: Your real value isn't in the label—it's in the substance you bring every day.

*Don’t shy away from the word “led”! While many people use “responsible for” on their resumes, “led” is a much stronger alternative that conveys authority and results. You aren’t exaggerating; you’re simply giving yourself the credit you deserve for the work you’ve already done.

See you next Tuesday for our next story and unspoken rule,

Gorick

WHAT I’M READING

Here are 3 articles that I found interesting recently (no paywalls, although it may depend on your cookies):

1. The psychological difference between playing video games to relax and playing to win

2. A view of the U.S. economy from Route 66 — 100 years on

3. Gen Z fled San Francisco for Texas and Florida. Now they're turning 'welcomer cities' into the next big tech towns

MORE OF MY WORK

Every newsletter is free and a fraction of my work. Here are 4 of my paid offerings that may interest you:

1. Keynote speaking​​: If your organization is looking for speakers for your internship program, new hire orientation, new student orientation, manager training, all-hands meetings, recruiting season, year-end performance evaluation season, or something else, let's chat!

2. How to Say It: Flashcards that teach you to know what to say in every high-stakes professional setting via hundreds of fill-in-the-blank scripts (just like the examples above). Free shipping on all orders over $40.

3. The Unspoken Rules​: My Wall Street Journal Bestseller that Arianna Huffington calls “a blueprint for anyone starting their career, entering a new role, or wanting to get unstuck.” Used by top companies and MBA programs.

4. Soft skills crash course: Hard skills get you hired, but a lack of soft skills gets you fired. Equip your interns and early career talent with the essential behaviors of high performers in just 3.5 hours.

Gorick Ng
[email protected]​
Harvard career advisor | WSJ bestselling author | Fortune 500 keynote speaker | First-gen

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STORY SOURCES

1. a fleshy fruit produced from a single flower containing one ovary

2. seeds and pulp must develop from the ovary of a flower

3. seeds are usually embedded in the fleshy interior

4. Bananas, cucumbers, kiwis, and even eggplants all qualify as berries

5. aggregate fruits

6. they're derived from a single flower with more than one ovary

7. Aggregate fruits