Comment by tqi

> You could have moved Mount Fuji with a teaspoon, but that doesn't matter unless they are on board with whatever you did. If they are, then that accomplishment will be billed as "did something nobody else could possibly do", and you are the best thing since sliced bread. On the other hand, if they aren't on board, then that same project will turn into "you should have used it as an opportunity to delegate tasks to other employees", and you're a sorry excuse for an engineer. At this point, facts don't matter.

That... seems fine? If my english teacher assigned me a book report, and I come back with a proof of one of the Millennium Prize Problems, I still shouldn't get an A? In a good organization, individuals SHOULD have the latitude to identify and solve what they believe is The Most Important Thing to work on, but part of working on that is making the case for why it's important.

> odds are pretty good you'll be within one ratings bucket of wherever your manager put you

That said, I definitely agree that your relationship with your manager will determine how hard you have to work to make that case.