On Proving Yourself

This is Day 2 of Click Publish Challenge.

In the past year, I’ve done a LOT of reflecting on my life and career. A LOT.

And I’ve never been one to linger too long on the past or past achievements. It’s always been, ok, that was done, now I’m on to the next big thing.

I didn’t stop. I didn’t slow down. I didn’t savor it. I just moved to “What’s next?”

But this time has been good to really reflect back and just be grateful for so many things.

Some say that’s where wisdom comes from — reflection of life experience. And it is.

And one of my biggest takeaways from those reflections is realizing my work career, particularly at iThemes, was proving I could do it all.

Maybe I thought that I was proving it to others, but in reality … it was showing MYSELF I could do it.

That I had talent, I had ability, I had energy, I had passion. That I was worth something and even special. And that I freaking could do it.

In fact, now looking back, I can say … OK, I did it.

There was this interesting moment a few months back when I said to myself: I have nothing left to prove. I left it all on the field. I played my hand well and did my best with it. And I’m damn proud of the body of work for that decade or so (and extending on to Post Status now too).

Years ago, I remember seeing video of Michael Jordan’s Hall of Fame speech. And what I got from it was that he was essentially saying, “Hey all you, you doubters, you naysayers, who didn’t freaking believe in me – look, I did it!”

Most everyone on the planet would say he did it on multiple levels, at the pinnacle and exponentially. He’s freaking Michael Jordan. He set the standard all NBA players measure themselves by.

But who was he really talking to?

My whole life I thought I was trying to prove to all the naysayers (come on, Cory, who were they?) or doubters that I was something, I could do cool things, maybe big things, I could make something of myself, this little punk kid from Lone Grove, Oklahoma.

But who was I really trying to convince?

Myself.

That’s the work. That’s the start of wisdom for me.