Just be yourself

A few random thoughts from my upcoming book.

“He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away.” – Raymond Hull

I just got done reading Jay Mathew’s Work Hard. Be Nice. Mathews follows the lives of educational geniuses, Dave Levin and Mike Feinburg. The two are responsible for the Knowledge is Power Program KIPP and for revolutionizing low-income and at risk student education. During a particularly discouraging time the two share the following self-realization: “We were trying too hard to be what we thought teachers should be and not trying hard enough to be ourselves.” Levin and Feinburg have since gone on to re-write the book on education in American and have started over 80 Knowledge is Power Program schools across the nation.

Everyone has different back grounds, upbringings and perspectives. Some are rich some are poor, and yes, some are stupid. Regardless of what our background is we should be proud of who we are, and proud of what we have accomplished.

I grow weary of seeing people change themselves in order to meet the acceptance of others. In a typical workplace or office there are generally a few people whose egos are fed daily by butt kissers, brown noser’s or worse, people who denounce their personal beliefs hoping to be accepted by someone higher than them on the food chain. Such acceptance is temporary and is far outweighed by the long term satisfaction that comes from being true to yourself.

Being true to yourself means to be true to the very best that is in you. Not what you think the best is in someone else. ..

Derek


Copyright 2009 Jones and brown