To me, the secret to being fulfilled is to feel good about what I do. I don’t know how to feel good about what I do, unless I can truly say, “I did my best.”
What is Self Respect?
Today I will share with you what is probably one of my biggest secrets. If I could isolate it, it’s “the thing” that has made a substantial difference in the way I’ve experienced life and business.
The world respects you to the degree you respect yourself.
The respect a person has for his/herself is reflected in how we care for and nurture our self, time, talents and emotions. It’s also reflected in how we apply ourselves to work or play.
I believe self respect has been one of the biggest contributors to the success I’ve experienced as an entrepreneur.
Where I grew up, self respect was instilled in us from an early age. Growing up, it was a theme that extended into every aspect of life: the importance of proper etiquette, how we cared for ourselves, the way we approached work or play. Whatever the responsibilities were, we were taught to be respectful of everything.
At the end of the day, as humans, all we seek is validation.
This same environment that taught us respect also had little tolerance for ego or individuality and so, the only way for one to find validation was to excel. It drove us to do focused and meticulous work and achieve, because that was the only way we were going to receive validation or recognition of any kind. The flip side of that was how we were being cultivated with an incredible work ethic.
If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.
It’s interesting how life gives us these opportunities to develop strength and character traits that we can then use later in life.
Self validation comes from knowing you’re living up to excellence.
Whatever the circumstances, by doing your best, going above the call of duty, you validate yourself. While we all appreciate being validated by others, the difference will be that you no longer “need” it, instead you will step into a place of power.
No one’s going to ask how long it took, they’re only going to ask, Who did it?
It’s not saying whatever you touch will turn to gold. Sometimes things turn out awful. However, those things that you decide to put your heart & soul into, even if it’s something that had turned out shitty, if you keep at it, there’s always a way to work with what pieces you’re left with to create something beautiful.
“Always do your best” – A very simple work ethic.
“The secret of joy in work is contained in one word– excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.” – Pearl S. Buck
What it all comes down to is an understanding of excellence as a way of living, a way of being. It reaches into every aspect of life. It is a commitment to yourself – a commitment to self respect.
Choose excellence as a way of being. Respect yourself.
All my best,
Jay Kubassek
P.S. This article is based on the March 19, 2013 podcast: WAKE UP:
