Here’s To Taking Full Credit For Your Achievements

Issue #10

In Eat, Pray, Love Elizabeth Gilbert mentions discovering her “word” and then using it to keep herself grounded as she navigated through life. After finishing the book, I took some time to think about what resonated best with me and came up with two words which I’ve stuck with through the years.

Authentic and Humble.

I do my best in everything I do to bring my true self to the table, and I have a pretty good track record so far (everyone has an off day now and then). But when I shared my words with my best friend years ago, he warned me about the second one and said “don’t make it a fault.” And looking back over the past two decades of my life, I can admit that I haven’t always done my best in taking credit for my accomplishments.

I remember reading an interview with Maya Angelou where she was asked why she wrote. And her answer was “because I can.” She wasn’t being smart, she wasn’t being boastful, and she wasn’t trying to brag. She was simply stating the fact that she was given a gift, discovered what it was, and was now using it to the best of her abilities … and thankfully sharing it with the rest of us.

More recently I watched a video post from another Black female author who had just finished her latest book draft in record time and was giving herself kudos for getting it done so quickly. She also gave thanks and credit to God for her gift, but said she was proud of herself and what she was able to accomplish in a short amount of time after putting her mind to it. And that there was nothing wrong with celebrating herself.

After years of playing team sports, then working for teams and onteams, one of the hardest things for me to do when my book came out was to say just that. This is MY book. I wrote it, all by myself.

But credit should be given where credit is due. And while many people contributed to the lessons that I shared, at the end of the day, I was the one who sat down, put pen to paper and created the version that is out in the world now.

So why is it so hard for us to take full credit for our accomplishments?

As young women, we’re often taught it’s not polite to brag or boast, but I think the line between bragging and acknowledging and celebrating your personal achievements has gotten way too fine.

I believe we were all given a gift at birth, and our job is to discover it and share it with the world. And when we do, we also need to take credit for it so others can see our example and do the same.

With you on the journey…

P.S. – If you’ve never heard Maya Angelou read Phenomenal Women, do yourself a favor and give it a listen now. 🎧