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Best of Gorick's Newsletter 2024

Last Updated:

January 17, 2025

Table of Contents

To round out the year, I thought I’d do something different from our usual weekly story. This week, let’s take a look at…

All the stories we covered this year, categorized by career goal
My top unspoken rule of 2024
“How do you look and sound so good in your virtual talks?” (subscriber question)

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“I want to succeed in a new job.”

“I want to move up in my organization.”

“I want to change careers.”

“I want to find a mentor.”

“I want to overcome a setback.”

“I want to leave a lasting legacy.”

“I want to be more focused.”

“I want to be more productive.”

“I want to become a better leader.”

“I want to become a stronger communicator.”

“I want to be happier.”

UNSPOKEN RULE

My top unspoken rule of 2024

Behind every “overnight success” are years of invisible work.

What did I learn researching and writing 51 famous people or things this year that I didn’t fully realize before?

It takes years—and often decades—to become an “overnight success.” Behind every overnight star is a lot of quiet, heads-down work. We just don’t see it.

So, if you know where you want to be and are wondering why you aren’t there yet—whether it’s a certain company or role or salary or achievement—ask yourself: “How long have I been on this path?” Then, go on LinkedIn and Wikipedia, skim the profiles of 10 people who’ve walked your path, and analyze how long they’ve pursued this path consistently. Chances are, you still have time to go. So, be patient! It takes time to outlast the competition.

Don’t know where you want to go? That’s OK, too! Experimenting is the best way to quickly figure out what you like and don’t like. Start with a side project, as the founders of Nike did.

What’s an “unspoken rule”? They’re what separate those who get ahead in their careers from those who fall behind. Learn more in my Wall Street Journal bestselling book called—you guessed it—The Unspoken Rules.

ASK GORICK‍

“How do you look and sound so good in your virtual talks?”

I saw you speak at my school and then saw you speak at my company, both virtually. Both times, I heard people comment about how good your camera looked and how good your audio sounded. How do you do it?

—L

Gorick:

Hi L—I’m honored to hear that you came to not just one but two of my virtual talks!

Given that I speak over 100 times per year, I decided to invest in a more serious home studio setup. For times when I’m on the move (for example if I am speaking in person and need to do another talk from my hotel room), I bring a mobile setup with me.

Here’s everything I use for my home studio:

Here’s everything I bring with me on the road:

You don’t need to invest a lot to get 80% of the way there, though. You’ll look and sound better than the vast majority of people if you focus on:

A stable internet connection (so plug into an ethernet port wherever you can)
Good lighting (so sit in front of a window or put a light behind your laptop)
Good video (so get the $59.99 webcam from my travel kit if you have an older laptop with a bad camera)
Good sound (so use an external mic—even if it’s the one on your headphones—or, at the very least, avoid sitting in a big room with lot of hard surfaces that will lead to a ton of echo)

See you in 2025!

—Gorick

4 things from me you might find useful:

1. HOW TO SAY IT: Flashcards that teach you to know what to say in every high-stakes professional setting. Free shipping on all orders over $40.

2. The Early Career Success Masterclass: My online course that takes you from day 1 in a new role through to a promotion with 28 modules and 28 cheatsheets (3.5 hours of content).

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. Keynote speaking: Including workshops and fireside chats for schools, companies, and non-profit organizations. Let’s connect!

You may also like:

> 7 Tasks Every Professional Should Have On Their Year-End To-Do List

> Tips for Leading a Successful Book Club Discussion

> My Advice for Grads: Become Your Own Professor in the School of Life.

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