Don’t Rely on Humble
For most of my life I’ve lived under the assumption that if I stayed true to being the most selfless, humble person, I could possibly be, I would stand out in my own right for doing so.
Always reflecting praise, never patting myself on the back, cringing at the thought of a brag. Old fashioned hard work. That’s what I’m about.
I truly hope that those closest to me could say that I’ve lived up to that standard I’ve set for myself…
But, somewhere along the line I realized…humble, only goes so far.
Taking a step back…this is a hard reality to accept. Being truly humble is like believing in good karma. At your very core there is a belief instilled in you, that if… and only if, you stay humble, under all circumstances, that the natural order of things should go your way and reward you for your selfless hard work.
…If only that were the case.
The truth of the matter is, nothing is this simple. And unfortunately operating under these assumptions will get you in just as much trouble as it will good fortune. Humble is an amazing thing to be, but it’s not enough to set you apart…plain and simple. And I will be the first to say, I’ve made this mistake many times in my life and paid the price every time.
Take a look at your life…are you where you want to be? Are you anywhere close to where you want to go? …If you are, then ask yourself, did you get there by being humble and hoping for the best? Or did you get there by taking the bull by the horns and controlling your destiny?
I still have such a long way to go before I will be anywhere close to where I want to be.
And each and everyday I am grateful for the opportunity to take one step closer in getting there…but to answer my own question — the results are clear, every important step I’ve taken in my life has been because I showed people why I deserved to be considered, to be accepted, to be taken noticed to.
If you want people to want to get to know you, you have to first show them why they should. If you think you deserve recognition, odds are you will have to go out of your way to show people why you deserve it.
I’m not saying there is no value in being humble, I’m saying, it’s only one part of the equation. So, don’t be afraid to be over the top. Be the most over the top you that you can possible be. Show the world who you are. And do so by staying true to yourself.
…for me it always seemed, some level of loud and arrogant must be the other half of the equation. Problem was, that’s just not me…
My days will always be a failure if I’ve heard myself speak more then I did others.
It’s a personal choice…I don’t consider myself shy or introverted. I just have an inherent belief that you can learn from everyone you come across and you miss out on opportunities to do so when you’re talking most of the time.
I enjoy learning from others and collecting my thoughts. And when I speak I speak with a purpose. I believe this is how I personally add my best value. This is why I love to write. I love to think through my thoughts and express them in a well put together manner. I enjoy expressing myself through my writing, so I write.
The point is, there are so many ways to show the world what you bring to the table. But being humble is only a part of it. And unfortunately it’s not a forcing function to others. So, don’t rely on it…do it because it’s the right thing to do. But understand, it won’t take you all the way.
Is your humble side telling you to disagree with this post yet?
Don’t let it. Let go of the contradicting thoughts that tell you it’s not ok to brag about yourself once in awhile. Allow yourself to stand out. And most importantly, give people the chance… to in return, give you what you deserve.
