Two Roads to Visibility: Lessons from a Shrewd Steward

"And the master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly." — Luke 16:8, NIV

There’s a curious story Jesus told in Luke 16:1–13. At first glance, it feels like a moral contradiction — why would Jesus commend a steward who was clearly dishonest? But if you look deeper, there’s a goldmine of strategic truth hidden beneath the layers of the parable. Jesus didn’t celebrate dishonesty. He celebrated strategy.

The steward, faced with imminent job loss, quickly devised a plan to secure his future. He used his master’s resources to buy goodwill by slashing the debts of his master’s clients. Unethical? Yes. Effective? Absolutely.

Now, let’s not get stuck on the dishonesty — even Jesus separated that part from the lesson. Instead, let’s zoom in on the two distinct visibility strategies his actions reveal — strategies many of us still use today, whether consciously or not.

🔍 Strategy 1: Networking — The Platform of Others

“I am ashamed to beg,” said the steward (Luke 16:3). But the idea behind “begging” here wasn’t necessarily panhandling — it was positioning.
It was leveraging another man’s table, reputation, or influence to gain visibility.

In today’s terms? It’s networking.

Yes, the kind we glamorize on LinkedIn.
The kind where you attach yourself to powerful people, platforms, or brands.
You become visible by association, not because you’re the one delivering value, but because you're in the room where it happens.

And let’s be honest — this works.

📊 Consider this:

84% of professionals say networking is critical to their career success (LinkedIn, 2023).
70% of jobs are not advertised publicly — they’re filled through networking.

But here’s the hard truth: visibility through others makes you dependent.
You become a shadow, not a source.
It’s borrowed light. And what happens when their light goes dim?

🌟 Strategy 2: Create Value and Deliver it for Free

This is what the steward did. He created instant value — he reduced debt burdens. He didn’t wait to be given a stage. He made one — even if it was illegally funded.

Let’s be clear: the moral failure was using his master’s resources unethically. But Jesus wasn’t focused on that.
He said, “The people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light” (Luke 16:8).

Jesus was commending the intentionality, speed, and brilliance of his value-creating strategy.
He understood the equation: Visibility follows value.

💡 Case Study: Gary Vaynerchuk (aka Gary Vee)

Gary Vee built his empire not by begging for a seat at someone else’s table — but by creating mountains of free content.

Daily YouTube videos.
Free motivational talks.
Ungated templates and resources.

Today, he runs VaynerMedia, a multi-million-dollar agency, and is followed by millions globally. His visibility didn’t come from networking alone — it came from giving, not grabbing.

🧠 The Key Insight: Add Value — Even Before You’re Paid

You don’t need a title to start serving.
You don’t need a spotlight to start shining.
You just need a solution to someone’s problem — and the courage to give it away for free.

Yes, for free.

Because every act of free value is a seed. It builds trust, credibility, and demand. The harvest? Visibility and influence.
Even Jesus’ ministry started this way — healing, teaching, feeding, all before recognition or reward.

👩🏽‍💼 The Invisible Trainer Who Created Her Own Path

A friend of mine — let’s call her Ife — was once the “invisible assistant” at a corporate firm. Brilliant mind, sharp insights, but hidden behind bureaucracy. No one would give her the mic. So, she created an Instagram page.

Every week, she shared short, powerful training tips in 60-second reels — all for free. She answered questions. Offered tools. Within 6 months, she was invited to speak at 3 industry events. By 9 months, she had 2 retainer clients. By the first anniversary, she resigned — to run her own training consultancy.

She didn’t wait to be discovered. She created value — and visibility followed.

💬 In the Words of Thought Leaders:

“Stop waiting for permission. If you want visibility, create value that cannot be ignored.”
— Mary Ewere, Strategic Content 4 Impact

“People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things.”
— Edmund Hillary

“Don’t wait for opportunity. Create it.”
— George Bernard Shaw

❤️ Final Words from My Heart

Friend, I know the feeling of being unseen, overlooked, or underestimated. I’ve been there — waiting for a platform, a promotion, a pat on the back. But I’ve learned this: waiting doesn’t build legacy — creating does.

Whether it’s your writing, your voice, your ideas, your designs — put it out there.
Not because you have it all figured out. But because someone, somewhere, needs what you carry.

Don’t just chase visibility. Create value that commands it.

📌 Keywords:

Personal branding strategies
Christian entrepreneurship
Faith-based leadership
Visibility through value creation
Strategic networking for professionals

#StrategicVisibility #FaithAndLeadership #CreateValueFirst #ChristianThoughtLeadership #StrategicContent4Impact

Let this be your push to step out. Create value. Share freely. And watch the doors open.

– Mary Ewere
Founder, Strategic Content 4 Impact

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