Confusing status with skill
You shouldn't worry about prestige. Prestige is the opinion of the rest of the world
How to Do What You Love
In a society where respect is disconnected from competence, people will prioritize status over substance.
Prestigious people are above all impressive. They have skills that admirers may wish for themselves — skills like playing basketball, understanding math, or method acting. Or (in the ancestral environment) skills like hunting, cooking, tool-making, or distinguishing edible from poisonous foods. And since humans learn mostly by observation and imita... See more
Kevin Simler • Social Status: Down the Rabbit Hole | Melting Asphalt
Domain fame is not a measure of your expertise, it’s a measure of the perception of your expertise.
Michael Port • The Referable Speaker: Your Guide to Building a Sustainable Speaking Career—No Fame Required
Prestige is especially dangerous to the ambitious. If you want to make ambitious people waste their time on errands, the way to do it is to bait the hook with prestige. That's the recipe for getting people to give talks, write forewords, serve on committees, be department heads, and so on. It might be a good rule simply to avoid any prestigious tas... See more