This is a form of game theory, and I'm not joking. I find it helpful, specifically helpful against burnout.
Develop enough credentials that you've got stuff in your resume, that you ARE damn good in the areas that you 'click' with, and get some of that out there.
Then, DON'T be lofty. Maybe make the occasional lofty statement, but be self-deprecating, laugh, make fun of yourself in a way that seems incongruous. Admit that you're actually quite good, then undermine it. Call yourself out that you're a silly bozo, but you mean well, and have some good moments :)
If you're dealing with nothing but bozos who have to be snow-jobbed, this won't work but you don't want to go with them anyway: they're doomed, and they don't understand the real world.
If you're dealing with wiser people (so long as you're not too annoying about it) they'll cut you some slack but suspect that you protest too much. You must be really good to 'dress down' so ostentatiously!
If you're dealing with people way below your level, they just think you're being too humble and worship you all the more, because you seem to be capable of miracles and are clearly just not understanding how amazing you are. And then they throw money :D
It's all social engineering. Needing to be lofty is a trap. Beware the expectation of being lofty, it's not actually a great strategy :)
This is a form of game theory, and I'm not joking. I find it helpful, specifically helpful against burnout.
Develop enough credentials that you've got stuff in your resume, that you ARE damn good in the areas that you 'click' with, and get some of that out there.
Then, DON'T be lofty. Maybe make the occasional lofty statement, but be self-deprecating, laugh, make fun of yourself in a way that seems incongruous. Admit that you're actually quite good, then undermine it. Call yourself out that you're a silly bozo, but you mean well, and have some good moments :)
If you're dealing with nothing but bozos who have to be snow-jobbed, this won't work but you don't want to go with them anyway: they're doomed, and they don't understand the real world.
If you're dealing with wiser people (so long as you're not too annoying about it) they'll cut you some slack but suspect that you protest too much. You must be really good to 'dress down' so ostentatiously!
If you're dealing with people way below your level, they just think you're being too humble and worship you all the more, because you seem to be capable of miracles and are clearly just not understanding how amazing you are. And then they throw money :D
It's all social engineering. Needing to be lofty is a trap. Beware the expectation of being lofty, it's not actually a great strategy :)