The article's 'useful vs. valued' distinction is spot on, and for me, it largely hinges on perceived replaceability. Being a diligent workhorse makes you 'usef

The article's 'useful vs. valued' distinction is spot on, and for me, it largely hinges on perceived replaceability. Being a diligent workhorse makes you 'useful' - you're reliably closing tickets. But 'valued' often means bringing innovation or strategic foresight that's harder to replicate. Sometimes, too much visible grind on routine tasks can almost cap your perceived value. It reminds me of the senior dev whose Jira updates might be terse — like 'Continuing research on core problem' — for days. They're not judged on daily ticket volume, but on the eventual breakthrough or critical insight that unblocks everyone or defines the next big thing. That signals a different kind of leverage and indispensability than just high output.