Being underestimated is free space. Nobody’s watching you closely, so build in peace.

Low expectations come with privacy. When nobody thinks much is coming from you, nobody checks your progress, corrects your method or tells you what is realistic, and that leaves an unusual amount of room to work in. Attention is its own kind of pressure, and the absence of it is worth something. Being overlooked is uncomfortable and usefully quiet.

Use the stretch while it lasts to build something without discussing it. Resist arguing with the low estimate, since arguing spends energy the work needs. Let the eventual result carry the conversation.