No matter what you achieve, remember there are already many others who also have achieved the same or more than you did. If you do well, people will notice your work. And if you need to make all kinds of efforts to be noticed as a photographer before your own photography, the stage is a better place for you. Or maybe you will have to pretend all your life that you are all this shit (pardon my french) people think you are but you know it's all glitter and shine. You won't dare to make any different move otherwise you could be busted.
Let your work talk for you, not the contrary.