Picture this scenario.
It is performance review season.
You are sitting across from your manager (or staring at them on Zoom).
They ask you a simple question: "So, what are your biggest accomplishments from the past year?"
Your mind goes blank.
You know you worked incredibly hard.
You know you stayed late, solved complex problems, and helped your teammates.
But for the life of you, you canβt remember specific details from six months ago.
You end up mumbling something vague about "being a team player" and "hitting deadlines."
The review ends. You get a standard "meets expectations" rating.
You walk away feeling frustrated because you know you deserved more.
Does this sound familiar?
I have been there, and I bet you have too.
The problem isnβt your work ethic.
The problem is your memory.
Human beings are terrible at remembering day-to-day wins over a long period.
That is why you need a secret weapon.
In the tech industry and corporate world, it is often called a "Brag Document."
Here is how to build one, maintain it, and use it to get the recognition (and raise) you deserve.
Why "Bragging" Is Actually Your Responsibility
First, letβs address the elephant in the room.
The name "Brag Document" makes some people uncomfortable.
We are often taught to be humble.
We think our work should speak for itself.
But here is the harsh reality: Your work does not speak for itself.
Your work is silent. It sits in folders, codebases, and completed checklists.
Unless you give it a voice, it stays silent.
Overcoming Recency Bias
Your manager is human.
They suffer from something called "recency bias."
This means they remember the mistake you made last week vividly.
But they have likely forgotten the major project you saved from disaster eight months ago.
A Brag Document serves as an external hard drive for your career history.
It forces the conversation to cover the entire year, not just the last three weeks.
Helping Your Manager Help You
I like to think of this document as a tool for empathy.
Your manager is likely managing several people.
They are busy, stressed, and trying to recall what everyone did.
When you hand them a curated list of your wins, you are making their life easier.
You are practically writing the performance review for them.
Most managers will copy and paste your bullet points directly into HRβs system.
By doing the heavy lifting, you control the narrative.
Crushing Imposter Syndrome
There is a hidden mental health benefit here, too.
We all have days where we feel like we aren't achieving anything.
Opening your Brag Document and scrolling through months of wins is a massive confidence booster.
It is concrete proof that you are growing and contributing.
What Exactly Goes Into a Brag Document?
So, you are ready to start. What do you write down?
A common mistake is only recording the massive, earth-shattering milestones.
But a career is built on the daily grind, not just the launch days.
Your document needs to be comprehensive.
The Big Wins
Obviously, list your completed projects.
If you launched a marketing campaign, write it down.
If you shipped a new product feature, log it.
These are your headline acts.
The "Glue" Work
This is the category most people neglect.
"Glue work" is the stuff that keeps the team from falling apart but rarely gets a dedicated Jira ticket.
Did you update the onboarding documentation for new hires?
Did you organize the team offsite?
Did you mediate a conflict between two departments?
This work is invaluable to the company culture.
Make sure it gets visible.
Mentorship and Assistance
Who did you help this year?
If you spent three hours helping a junior colleague debug code, that goes in the doc.
If you reviewed someone else's presentation to help them prepare, write it down.
These moments prove leadership potential.
They show you lift others up, which is a key trait for promotion.
Positive Feedback (The "Receipts")
This is my favorite part of the Brag Document.
Create a section for "Praise."
Whenever someone sends you a Slack message saying, "Thanks, you're a lifesaver!" screenshot it.
When a client emails your boss saying you did a great job, copy that text.
Having third-party validation is powerful.
It isn't just you saying you are good; itβs the market saying it.
How to Structure Your Wins for Maximum Impact
A list of tasks is boring.
A list of impacts is persuasive.
When you are updating your document, you need to frame your work correctly.
Do not just write what you did. Write what happened because you did it.
The STAR Method
I recommend using a shorthand version of the STAR method for your entries.
Situation, Task, Action, Result.
You don't need to write a novel for every entry. Just a sentence or two.
- Bad: "I wrote the weekly newsletter."
- Good: "Took over the weekly newsletter (Task), redesigned the layout (Action), resulting in a 15% increase in open rates (Result)."
Quantify Everything
Numbers act as anchors for the brain.
Whenever possible, attach a metric to your accomplishment.
Did you save time? How many hours per week?
Did you save money? How much?
Did you reduce errors? By what percentage?
If you don't have exact numbers, estimates are fine (as long as you label them as estimates).
"Reduced meeting times by approx. 20%" is better than "Made meetings shorter."
Use Strong Verbs
Avoid passive language.
Words like "helped," "assisted," or "was involved in" are weak.
Use active verbs like:
- Spearheaded
- Executed
- Optimized
- Built
- Negotiated
Language shapes perception.
Building the Habit: How to Stay Consistent
The hardest part of a Brag Document isn't writing it.
It is remembering to write in it.
We all start with good intentions in January and fall off the wagon by February.
Here is how I keep my streak alive.
Low Friction is Key
Do not over-engineer the system.
You do not need a complex database or a fancy app.
A simple Google Doc, a pinned Note on your phone, or a private Slack channel with yourself is fine.
The best tool is the one you actually use.
I personally use a simple text file on my desktop.
It opens instantly, I type a line, and I close it.
The "Friday 15"
Schedule a recurring 15-minute meeting with yourself every Friday afternoon.
Friday is ideal because your brain is already in "review mode" before the weekend.
Look back at your calendar for the week.
Look at your sent emails.
What did you get done?
Jot it down immediately.
If you wait until the end of the month, you will forget 50% of it.
If you wait until the end of the quarter, you will forget 80% of it.
Trigger Stacking
If a calendar invite doesn't work for you, try "habit stacking."
Link the updating of your Brag Doc to a habit you already do.
Do you have to fill out a timesheet? Update your Brag Doc right after.
Do you have a weekly team standup meeting? Update your doc while you listen to others.
Make it part of your existing rhythm.
Beyond the Review: Other Uses for Your Brag Doc
While we are focusing on performance reviews, this document has other superpowers.
It is a versatile career asset.
Updating Your Resume
Updating a resume is usually a painful process.
You stare at the blinking cursor, trying to summarize years of work.
With a Brag Document, your resume is practically written for you.
You just skim your document, pick the top 5 "Results" from the year, and paste them into your CV.
You will be ready to apply for new roles in minutes, not days.
Making the Case for Promotion
Promotions are rarely given just for doing your current job well.
They are given for demonstrating you are operating at the next level.
Your Brag Document allows you to spot patterns.
You might notice, "Wow, I spent 30% of my time this year training new hires."
That is evidence you are ready for a Team Lead role.
You can present this data to your boss to make a factual case for a title change.
Interview Prep
When you are in a job interview, they will ask behavioral questions.
"Tell me about a time you failed."
"Tell me about a time you handled a difficult client."
If you have a Brag Document, you have a database of stories ready to go.
You won't be grasping for examples; you will have them memorized.
Summary: Start Today
If you take one thing away from this post, let it be this:
You are the only person who cares about your career as much as you do.
No one else is tracking your wins.
No one else is keeping score of your late nights.
It is up to you to advocate for yourself.
Do not wait until December.
Open a blank document right now.
Title it "My Wins."
Write down three things you did this week.
Future You will be incredibly different.
Future You will walk into that performance review with confidence, data, and a narrative that demands recognition.
Now, go get that raise.