Today I find myself thinking about the invisible threads that weave through our careers. The countless hands that work in shadows and light to create the world we move through each day.

I was working with a client this morning, someone who’s built an impressive career but currently feels like he’s navigating without a map. We began by talking about his many achievements and obstacles he’s overcome: the deals he’s closed, the teams he’s built, the challenges he’s pushed through. And then we shifted to the people who shaped his path—mentors who opened doors, colleagues who made introductions, and leaders who took a chance on him. Most of these people, he’ll never properly thank. Some he’s lost touch with entirely.

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By the end of our conversation, something had shifted. He began to see his career differently, not just as a series of individual achievements, but also as a web of relationships and moments where someone chose to help, to include, and to believe. He remembered: he didn’t do it alone. None of us do.
This reflection matters because it’s how careers actually work. It’s about the people you’ve interacted with who helped you get to where you are. Your network of known, and often invisible, supporters.
The cybersecurity analyst who monitors your networks at 3 AM. The teacher who helped you learn to think critically. The custodian who kept your building safe and clean while you worked late. The mentor who saw something in you before you saw it yourself. The colleague who mentioned your name in a meeting you weren’t in.
Some we know by name. Many we will never meet. But like faith itself, gratitude flows to all of them.
And for the people who have helped you along the way, the ones who you actually know, they are your personal career makers. Some of those relationships might still have stories, chapters, or even books left to write.
Which of your career makers could use some recognition now? Who can you help to pay it forward? Who knows, maybe they will even continue to play a role in what’s next for you.
Only one way to find out, right?
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Career+ by Ken Persel is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.