The Power of Simplicity: The Art of Being Remembered

Eric Sim

Author of Small Actions 

Former UBS Managing Director

Global Speaker

LinkedIn Global Top Voice

Eric Sim does not talk about techniques for self-promotion.

Instead, he talks about something more fundamental: how people stay memorable.

His feed is not filled with flashy moments.

Yet many people remember him.

Millions follow him, and readers around the world engage with his writing.

So what exactly do people remember?

I asked Eric what it really means to be remembered.

When a Story Begins to Matter

Q1. Was there a moment when you realized your story could be valuable to others?

An editor at the CFA Institute in the U.S., Paul McCaffrey, once wrote a 2,500-word article about my life and career. I remember telling him,

“Who is going to read 2,500 words about my life? Why don’t you cut it to 1,000?”

But he said every story in it was important, so I told him,

“You’re the editor. If you think it works, just publish it.”

Honestly, I didn’t expect it to do well.

But when it was published, it became one of the top-performing articles on the CFA Institute platform.

That moment gave me confidence. I realized my story might actually be interesting—or useful—to others.

That article became a turning point for me. After that, I began sharing more openly and eventually started my speaking career.

What surprised me most was that people from very different countries all connected with the message.

Small Actions by Eric Sim and Simon Mortlock

What Makes Someone Memorable

Q2. Why is being remembered important in a career?

If people cannot remember you, they cannot give you opportunity. So you need to make it easy for them to remember you.

When I was young, nobody remembered me. I was very skinny, I couldn’t speak well, and I had no social skills. So I started thinking about how to make myself easier to remember.

There are different ways to do this. You can be unusual—perhaps through a unique style. Or you can be consistent and predictable.

For me, I chose consistency.

A blue suit. A white shirt.

I decided to present myself this way every day. Even today, many people remember that outfit when they think of me.

Another example is this:

people remember a few simple words

Author. Banker. Speaker.

That’s enough.

Most people don’t have time to remember many details, but they do remember simple things and stories.

Q3. When do you think people begin to trust someone?

People are smart. They can quickly tell when someone is trying too hard to show off or grab attention.

For me, the simplest way is to be the same person—online and offline.

I don’t want people to meet me in real life and feel that I’m different from who they see online.

At the end of the day, people notice how you treat others—for example, whether you treat a waiter the same way you treat a CEO.

The simplest way to earn trust is to be

consistent and

kind, especially toward those who cannot push back.

Invited Speaker at the 2025 Gyeonggi Startup Summit

Still Writing Like Day One

Q4. Many people try to build a following on social media. Was there a moment when you felt you had become an influencer?

I try not to think that way.

So even now, I still write as if it’s day one.

Nothing has really changed.

Otherwise, the pressure becomes too much.

On Day One, I was simply sharing, and there were not many followers. I could write very freely.

But if I start thinking,

“Now many people are reading this. Some of them are senior executives.”

Then, the pressure becomes overwhelming.

So I don’t write as an influencer.

I just write to share career tips and my experiences with my students and junior colleagues—things I believe may be useful to them.

Q5. On social media, many people emphasize their achievements. But your posts and photos seem to go in a different direction. Why is that?

Some people think they are a big deal yet feel insecure, so they try eager to show their success.

For me, I don’t feel the need to prove anything. I’ve already achieved many of the things I wanted in life. That’s enough.

Those who know will know.

And those who don’t—that’s okay, too.

And honestly, there is also an element of luck. I’ve been fortunate a few times in my life. So there’s really nothing to be overly proud of.

A shared moment at the table with Eric and Jinho Kim, an NUS graduate from Singapore

What Truly Determines Career Success

Q6. Many people believe that performance determines success. Is that really the case?

Many people think performance is the key but you need PIE.

Performance, Image and Exposure

Performance is important. Of course, you must perform. But performance alone is not enough.

Performance accounts for only 10% of your chances for promotion.

The second factor is image

—your reputation at work. That is 30%

And the most important factor is

exposure which accounts for 60%.

If your bosses don’t know you, you cannot be promoted.

Exposure means putting yourself out there.

No one is going to promote your work for you.

Outside the company, the principle is similar.

If more people know you, more opportunities will come to you.

At the Small Actions book signing event

What AI Cannot Replace

Q7. As AI begins to take over many existing tasks, what capabilities should people continue to develop?

Technical skills are becoming a commodity.

If you have technical skills today, you may have an advantage over someone who doesn’t. But soon, it will be like using a calculator.

Knowing how to use a calculator no longer gives you an advantage because everyone knows how to use one.

So what I focus on now is helping people become more well-rounded.

Be a CAT(Competent, Applealing, Trustworthy)

You should not only have technical knowledge. You should be able to get things done, convince others, sell ideas, tell stories, and present your views.

Competence includes technical skills, but also human capabilities.

You should also be appealing—someone with diverse interests, someone who is excited about life.

And finally, you must be trustworthy.

People must know you will not compromise your integrity or work ethic.

These qualities are essential if you want to thrive in the AI era.

One thing became clear through our conversation: for Eric Sim, an audience is not simply a group of followers, but people he genuinely hopes to help.

Before the interview ended, he left one final message for those building their careers:

Start small.

Start now.

Stay curious.

🔗 Eric Sim’s LinkedIn