Back in 2003 I was watching the BET awards and rapper Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson won an award for best new artist. He walked up to the podium after he won his award and thanked a couple of people. With a serious face he finished his speech with...
"I'm gonna be honest with ya'll, I wanna thank me."
At that moment a lot of people in the room probably looked at him as a really cocky individual. I, on the other hand didn't see anything wrong with it. Why can't a man who works as hard as him for all those years thank himself for all the hard work he put in? I find it very odd that people can call a person arrogant just because they congratulate their self for the hard work they put in.
We have to stop waiting for people to say...
"Great job."
or...
"You're doing great."
Sometimes you have to look yourself in the mirror and say...
"I did a great job."
or...
"Thanks for being so strong."
It might sound weird to you but if you give it one try you will find out how great thanking yourself is. Some people will congratulate you on your hard work and some might not. You're the only person who knows how hard you work and the sacrifices you've put in.
"BE THE FIRST"
"Be the first" is a phrase I use a lot in life. If you own your own business then be the first to pay yourself. After the long hours and late nights be the first to pat yourself on the back. Who knows what the radio dj that gets up at 4AM to make her morning show goes through just to deliver a great show. What about the working actor who is also a waiter and has to make auditions in between shifts. He probably has to go through a lot and is in a lot of pressure situations. Don't be afraid to congratulate yourself on a job well done because the validation you need from outside might come.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?
Alex Owumi is a professional basketball player and bestselling author of Qaddafi's Point Guard, The Fire Raven series and The Man In Forest Hills. You can view his website here.
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