Thoughts on being useful and visible.

It’s an interesting question, especially because we often assume the opposite of useful to be ‘useless’. That’s not true. There is a wide space between the two. In that space, many of us simply exist, present, are involved, visible but not really adding any specific value.

None of us can be useful 24×7. And that’s okay. Yet, most of us still want to be seen as useful. The real challenge is knowing when we are actually adding value and when our role is simply to observe, listen, and learn. We don’t need to contribute everywhere we show up. Sometimes, being present is enough.

There are also moments when we know we can be useful yet we choose silence. Often this is intentional. Stepping in can sometimes feel like encroaching into spaces we are not invited to. The line between contribution and interference can be thin, and many of us hesitate there.

This is where usefulness often gets confused with visibility. They are not the same. Everyone who is visible is not necessarily useful. And many who are genuinely useful remain invisible. Real value is often created quietly, without applause or recognition. But if visibility becomes our only goal, invisible usefulness can start to feel frustrating.

Still, one truth holds steady: visibility without usefulness will fail, sooner or later. It may work for a while, but it doesn’t last. When we focus on being genuinely useful, solving problems, enabling others, and adding clarity, then visibility tends to follow naturally.

The goal is to be there, present and ready. You never know where all you can be of use. Usability compounds. And when it does, being seen becomes a side effect, not the objective.