Over the weekend, Arnold Schwarzenegger said something that stuck with me. “Whining does not change anything. Whining does not build anything.” He was talking about climate action, but the message applies to our careers just as much. Complaints without action don’t change the system. They don’t change your situation either.
I used to have a rule. If I caught myself complaining too often about the place I worked, it was probably time to move on. That mindset helped me avoid resentment. It helped me take action before I burned out. But we’re living through one of the most difficult markets I’ve seen in years. I don’t wish unemployment on anyone, and walking away isn’t always possible.
Even so, too many people are sitting in frustration and doing nothing to change their situation. Not taking steps to improve things at work. Not doing the hard work of showing up publicly and building a presence. Not doing much of anything, except complaining.
Make the effort to fix something
Some work problems can be solved. It takes difficult conversations, clarity, and courage. If the team’s broken, if the leadership is off, if the role has shifted, you have to speak up. Suggest changes. Redefine your value. Set boundaries. None of this is easy, but it’s possible.
If the situation won’t improve, you still have options. Start putting energy into how you show up outside of work. Start building the kind of presence that gives you leverage when the next opportunity comes.
That means updating your website. Refreshing your LinkedIn. Putting your work out there. Rewriting your bio so it reflects where you are now, not where you were five years ago. You don’t need to turn into a content machine. You just need to be visible and consistent.
Most people want change, but few take action
People ask me all the time how to build a personal brand. I tell them what to do. But when I check in, very few have done anything with the advice. I hear excuses about time, discomfort, or not knowing what to say. But in the end, it comes down to effort.
If you want to change your situation, you cannot wait until you are forced to act. That’s when people panic. That’s when they rush to update a resume or write a post after six months of silence. It’s never effective.
What I recommend is simple. Post when you can. Comment every day. Connect with people in your industry. Show up thoughtfully and consistently. Over time, it works.
Commenting is the most underrated move
If you do nothing else, start commenting. It is the easiest way to get visible and build your network. Not one-word replies or clapping hands. Real comments that show you’ve read the post and have something to add. That’s how people start to notice you.
Most of the results come from showing up regularly. Not for a few days or a week. For months. I’ve been doing it for a while now, after being ignored for months and sending out applications that led nowhere. The difference is, now I’m having real conversations with great people in the industry. It feels like something meaningful could land soon.
Even when it does, even when I land a great opportunity, I’ll keep going. I’ve seen what happens when people disappear and have to start over. I’d rather keep the momentum going than rebuild from scratch later.
Build a routine before you need it
Once a month, I block out a weekend to update my site, check my resume, and clean up my socials. This isn’t about reinvention. It’s just maintenance. A small habit to make sure I’m not stuck, bitter, or caught off guard.
Small effort. Repeated consistently. That’s what changes your situation.
Whining doesn’t build anything. Action does.