There’s been a lot of buzz around the TV series To Kill a Monkey — and rightly so. It boasts a brilliant cast, sharp delivery, and a storyline that cuts across almost every corner of society.
It’s got it all: the startup founder who finally lands the big break but fumbles under family pressures, lessons on loyalty and betrayal, the tension of mental health under the weight of expectations, and the bittersweet taste of opportunity. Plenty to unpack.
Watching it reminded me of a conversation I had in 2023 while facilitating a session on Optimising Business Financial Health for the executives of MediaFuse Dentsu. We drifted into a timeless debate: accolades versus results.
My take was simple — awards are nice to have, but profit is a must-have. I’d take a super-profitable company nobody’s talking about over a wildly popular company bleeding cash any day. After all, applause doesn’t pay bills.
Silence vs. Visibility — The Two Extremes
There’s a popular mantra in business circles: “Move in silence.” It’s wise advice, but some take it to the extreme — hiding their work so well that even their own team forgets it exists. On the other end are those who believe visibility is everything: if the world doesn’t see you, you don’t exist. Both extremes are dangerous.
Silent execution is about focus — cutting through noise so you can deliver results. It’s building momentum without performing for the gallery at every step. But silence doesn’t mean invisibility. Results need a stage to be recognized.
On the flip side, visibility matters. It draws opportunities, partners, and credibility. But chasing the spotlight without substance is a quick path to a damaged reputation. Empty PR fades; tangible results endure.
The key is rhythm. Sometimes you go ghost. Sometimes you show face. The trick is to always make it count.
A Lesson from the Screen
Take Bucci Franklin, the quintessential actor who played “Oboz the Boss” in To Kill a Monkey. He once revealed that he turned down roles — even while “drinking garri and kulikuli” — because they didn’t align with his story or values.
Today, he’s celebrated for stellar performances, and TKAM has even sparked fresh interest in his earlier works like Rattle Snake. That’s elevation through discernment — not from being everywhere, but from being in the right places for the right reasons.
He could have accepted anything just to stay visible, but he chose substance over noise.
The Flip Side of the Coin
We all know the other type. Glossy LinkedIn profiles, endless talking, showing up at every mixer, claiming to be ecosystem builders or startup founders while building nothing. Some are even quietly job hunting.
It looks impressive on the surface, but when you peel back the layers, there’s little of substance.
Finding the Balance
The real play is not “silence or visibility.” It’s both, in balance.
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Keep your head down enough to do the work.
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Lift it up often enough so the right people know you’re doing it.
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Share milestones, not every micro-step.
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Let visibility grow out of execution — not replace it.
Add value. Deliver results. And when you do show up, show up with substance.
In the end, it’s not about choosing between silence and visibility. It’s about mastering the rhythm — so your work can speak, and be heard.
