How to Leverage Status for Career Growth | Toby Stuart

The Art of Charm

http://www.TheArtOfCharm.com

Business, Health & Fitness, Education

4.7 • 11K Ratings

🗓️ 8 September 2025

⏱️ 47 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Why do some people rise effortlessly while others go unnoticed? Toby E. Stuart, Leo Helzel Distinguished Professor of Business Administration at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, joins AJ and Johnny to reveal how social status—not just talent—shapes careers, opportunities, and success. Drawing from decades of research on social networks and status dynamics, Toby explains why recognition compounds like interest, why affiliation often matters more than merit, and how “anointing” can quietly decide who wins in today’s winner-take-most world. From Nobel Prizes to Michelin stars to online platforms like Yelp, Stuart uncovers the paradox of prestige: success is as much about who endorses you as what you achieve. He also explores the dark side of status—scams, pressure to maintain it, and the loneliness of reaching the top. If you’ve ever felt overlooked despite strong results, this episode exposes the hidden rules of the status game and how to finally play it smarter. What to Listen For [00:00:00] Why affiliation and endorsements boost status more than raw merit [00:01:17] The Matthew Effect: small early wins snowball into long-term success [00:03:14] How identity shapes evaluation—Lord Rayleigh’s “voodoo science” story [00:06:05] Achieved vs. ascribed status and why both determine outcomes [00:08:32] Algorithms as modern gatekeepers of status [00:13:16] Why “anointers” now include platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, and Yelp [00:17:26] How status transfers through networks like kinetic energy [00:23:25] The rise (and risk) of gaming the status system [00:27:42] The hamster wheel of high status: pressure, scrutiny, and imposter syndrome [00:33:42] Why authentic friendships become harder at the top [00:40:29] The future of status in the age of AI and algorithms A Word From Our Sponsors Stop being over looked and unlock your X-Factor today at ⁠unlockyourxfactor.com⁠ The very qualities that make you exceptional in your field are working against you socially. Visit the ⁠artofcharm.com/intel ⁠for a social intelligence assessment and discover exactly what's holding you back. Indulge in affordable luxury with Quince. Upgrade your wardrobe today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/charm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and hassle-free returns. Grow your way - with Headway! Get started at ⁠makeheadway.com/CHARM ⁠and use my code CHARM for 25% off. Ready to turn your business idea into reality? Sign up for your $1/month trial at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shopify.com/charm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Need to hire top talent—fast? Claim your $75 Sponsored Job Credit now at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Indeed.com/charm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. This year, skip breaking a sweat AND breaking the bank. Get your summer savings and shop premium wireless plans at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mintmobile.com/charm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Save more than fifty percent on term life insurance at ⁠SELECTQUOTE.COM/CHARM⁠ TODAY to get started Curious about your influence level? Get your Influence Index Score today! Take this 60-second quiz to find out how your influence stacks up against top performers at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠theartofcharm.com/influence⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Episode resources: TobyStuart.com Annointed Check in with AJ and Johnny! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AJ on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Johnny on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AJ on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Johnny on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Art of Charm on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Art of Charm on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Art of Charm on TikTok⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	You know, some people think OCD is just about keeping your house super clean?
0:04.0	That stereotype drives me crazy.
0:06.1	Real OCD creates these unwanted intrusive thoughts about stuff you actually care about,
0:11.3	like your social life.
0:12.4	Exactly.
0:13.4	It makes you doubt whether people actually like you or you're terrified.
0:16.4	You accidentally offended someone.
0:18.2	You spend hours replaying conversations looking for proof you're not a
0:22.1	terrible person. And those thoughts get so overwhelming. You start doing all these behaviors to make
0:26.8	them stop, like mentally reviewing every interaction or trying to cancel negative thoughts with
0:31.4	positive ones before you see friends. But here's the thing. The doubts and fears just come back
0:36.7	even stronger. It isolates you from the
0:38.9	connections that make life worth living. That's where NOCD comes in. They're the world's leading
0:43.9	provider of OCD treatment and all of their therapists specialize in ERP therapy. That's exposure
0:49.7	and response prevention. Not regular talk therapy, which actually makes OCD worse. NOCD does live
0:56.8	face-to-face virtual sessions, where they teach you proven techniques to manage intrusive thoughts
1:01.7	and reclaim your confidence. It's 100% virtual, covered by insurance for over 155 million Americans,
1:08.3	and you get support between sessions so you're not facing this alone.
1:12.4	If you think OCD might be holding you back, go to NOCD.com and book a free 15-minute call.
1:19.8	That's N-O-C-D.com.
1:22.3	If you have a friend who you think is prominent in some domain, just the very act that they're
1:27.1	hanging out with you
	...

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