When Your Work Ethic Doesn’t Match the Culture Around You

Starting a new role often comes with a mix of excitement and nerves. For many people, the hope is that even in a small or part-time position, they’ll find meaningful work and a chance to contribute. But sometimes, the reality doesn’t match the expectation. Instead of feeling fulfilled, you can end up wrestling with frustration and disappointment.

One common challenge is when side work or personal projects are scrutinized. Many professionals today juggle multiple streams of income like freelance work, a second job, a small business, or a “passion project.”

Yet some workplaces still view that as a red flag, even if it doesn’t interfere with the job. It can feel disheartening to have your commitment questioned, especially if you bring years of experience and a strong work ethic to the table.

The bigger issue often isn’t side work itself — it’s inconsistency in workplace culture. In some environments, employees openly run businesses or manage second careers during work hours, with leadership fully aware. At the same time, others may feel guilty even considering taking on small freelance tasks, worried it would be seen as disloyal. That kind of double standard can wear on you, especially if you’re the type of person who wants to give 100% to your role.

Missed opportunities can add to the frustration. Maybe you suggest leveraging a big new partnership, only to have the idea brushed off without consideration. Or you propose a proven marketing strategy, but it’s acknowledged without any follow-through. Over time, those moments send a message that your expertise isn’t valued, no matter how much effort or creativity you bring.

And when you go the extra mile by sharing the mission or finding ways to spotlight the organization, yet no one seems to notice, it can feel draining. You start to wonder if your skills would be better used somewhere else, somewhere they’d be appreciated and rewarded.

Layer on the exhaustion so many of us feel in today’s world whether from family responsibilities, health issues, lack of rest, or the relentless news cycle and it becomes even harder to stay motivated. It’s not just about the job; it’s about carrying all of that while still trying to show up with energy and dedication.

And at the heart of it, the struggle comes down to a mismatch: when your work ethic doesn’t align with the culture around you.

You want to do more, contribute more, and take things to the next level, but you’re surrounded by indifference or misplaced priorities. That disconnect leaves you feeling stuck.

The truth is that many people face this tension. And while there isn’t an easy answer, one step forward might be simply acknowledging it — naming the frustration, noticing the disconnect, and giving yourself permission to ask:

What’s next for me?

Voice Search: A New Era for SEO

Voice search is rapidly reshaping how users interact with search engines and how businesses approach SEO. Historically, SEO depended on the specific keywords people typed into search bars. Now, with more than a billion voice searches each month and over half of Americans having tried voice search, the influence of this technology is clear. As virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa become more common, it is vital to understand the unique impact voice search has on SEO strategies.

What Sets Voice Search Apart?

Voice search fundamentally differs from traditional text-based queries. Users speak in natural, conversational language, such as asking, “What’s the weather like in Pennsylvania today?” rather than typing “weather Pennsylvania.” To meet this shift, websites must focus on natural language phrasing, frequently asked questions, and conversational content, moving away from keyword-heavy headlines. Voice searches tend to be longer, more detailed, and often include intent, time, location, and urgency. For instance, someone might say, “Alexa, where can I buy fresh flowers near me that’s still open now?”

Modern search engines, including Google, utilize natural language processing (NLP) to interpret these complex, conversational queries. Because users speak in sentences, voice search reflects this pattern. To optimize for voice search, strategies should incorporate long-tail keywords and full-sentence questions that users are likely to ask. While short-tail keywords remain relevant, balancing both types is crucial, as voice and text searches often differ in phrasing.

Voice search is also hands-free and frequently used while multitasking—during activities such as driving, cooking, or walking. Users expect quick, clear answers rather than a list of links.

AI-Powered Search and Content Visibility

AI-driven search platforms like Google SGE, ChatGPT, and Perplexity are revolutionizing online content discovery. Rather than presenting ten blue links, these advanced engines use artificial intelligence to summarize the most relevant responses to user queries. As a result, content must be structured for easy extraction by AI—using clear headings, bullet points, and schema markup to help systems organize information efficiently. Establishing content as authoritative and trustworthy further increases its chances of being selected as the top source in search results.

Featured Snippets and Local Optimization

Featured snippets—also known as “position zero”—are more important than ever in the age of voice search. Voice assistants typically return only the top result, making SEO a winner-takes-most endeavor. If your content doesn’t secure the featured snippet, it may not appear in voice search results.

Local optimization is especially critical for businesses. Thoroughly optimizing your Google Business Profile, collecting reviews, and using structured data on your website ensures voice assistants can accurately answer “near me” queries, providing users with the most relevant local information.

Creating Content That Answers Specific Questions

Voice search users want direct, concise answers. To reach this audience, design content around the questions they are likely to ask, using FAQ-style rich snippets that reflect actual user queries. This approach increases your chances of earning the featured snippet and boosts search visibility.

Building extensive FAQs and knowledge bases, as demonstrated by Jonathan Feniak at LLC Attorney, can be invaluable for voice search optimization. By anticipating and answering detailed questions about LLCs, compliance, and legal matters, their site has delivered concise, accessible answers and seen notable growth in web traffic and thought leadership.

Optimizing for Local Search Queries

Local SEO is crucial for businesses seeking organic search traffic, especially via voice search. Users often search for nearby products or services while on the move. To rank well for “near me” searches, complete and update your Google Business Profile, implement on-page local keyword SEO, and provide detailed location information on your website. Publishing area-specific blog content can further strengthen your local relevance.

Marketing Secrets for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Today I thought I’d dig into the age-old question: what am I actually doing here?

I’m an artist. I’m a writer. I’m a content creator, a marketer, a mother with a gazillion interesting stories to tell, if you are willing to listen. Or read them.

When I first started freelancing, I had zero clue how to market myself. With all the labels like “content strategist”, “blogger”, “copywriter”, “social media guru”, the list goes on. I could not narrow my title down to just one thing.

Photo by Timon Studler on Unsplash

But here’s the thing: marketing yourself when you’re not 100% sure what you’re selling doesn’t have to be as complicated as we make it.

Because here’s what I learned through my mistakes:

1. You Don’t Have to Be a “Master” Yet

When you first start a new creative journey, it’s easy to feel like you need to have everything figured out before you start marketing…. but you don’t.

And you’ll never have it all figured out.

When I first started my own business, I was still figuring out my strengths, what I actually enjoyed doing, and understanding how to tie that back to needs I could address.

I made a promise to myself, though: I wouldn’t wait for perfection to start pitching myself.

My advice:

Find one thing you know how to do well and talk about it. You don’t have to be an expert. Offer the solution you can currently provide, even if it’s not “perfect.”

People are willing to pay for progress, not perfection.

2. Let Your Work Speak for You

One thing I didn’t realize at first was that marketing didn’t always have to be about a sales pitch. It could be about showing your work.

My advice:

Post the process. Let people see what you’re working on — whether it’s writing a blog, designing a logo, or brainstorming content ideas. People don’t necessarily need to see a finished project.

The journey is more interesting.

My small business started out by people who liked my art on Instagram, and everything snowballed from there.

3. Use Simple Language

When I started out, I didn’t know what to call myself. So, I just kept it simple: “I help businesses create content that connects with their audience.” It was broad, but it worked, and since has evolved.
My advice: Instead of overcomplicating your pitch, use clear language that anyone could understand.

Think: “I help [type of client] with [type of service].”

4. Ask for Feedback

The more I put myself out there, the more I learned what people actually needed. I asked past clients for feedback and paid attention to what they valued most in my work. I even asked them for Google reviews because I quickly learned that people were finding my business online through search results and keywords like “marketing loudoun county”
My advice: Reach out to people you’ve worked with (even in volunteer roles) and ask them:

“What was the most valuable part of working with me?”

What You Can Do Today:

• Start with one simple service that you know you can offer (even if it’s just a small part of a larger project). Maybe it’s copywriting, or editing, or creating social media posts for a client.

• Share your process on social media or your blog to build visibility and engagement.

• Ask for feedback from past clients or people you’ve helped to refine your pitch.

Marketing yourself doesn’t need to be a perfect science. It’s all about putting yourself out there, learning as you go, and refining along the way.

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