Thanksgiving is now in our collective rear-view mirrors. It is my favorite holiday for so many reasons, one of which is the fact that it is all about giving thanks, showing gratitude and counting our blessings. The rapper, singer and songwriter Snoop Dog was in the news this week for finally receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame after a successful career that has spanned three decades. His acceptance speech received a lot of attention because after he thanked the important people in his life (his parents, wife, Dr. Dre, Jimmy Kimmel and Quincy Jones), he took the time to thank himself saying:
“Last but not least, I want to thank me for believing in me, I want to thank me for doing all this hard work, I want to thank me for having no days off, I want to thank me for never quitting, I want to thank me for always being a giver and trying to give more than I receive. I want to thank me for trying to do more rights than wrong, I want to thank me for just being me at all times.”
This part of Snoop’s speech made headlines and got people talking about the appropriateness of self-gratitude.
Why does it strike us as unusual and noteworthy when someone thanks himself? Does it seem narcissistic? Is it a humble-brag? Or is it a great reminder of what it takes to be successful?
You have undoubtedly heard the famous Coach Vince Lombardi quote “the only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary”. The American football coach is considered one of the greatest of all time and is so legendary that the Super Bowl trophy is named after him. The hallmark qualities of Vince Lombardi’s coaching style were hard work, planning, preparation, and attention to detail. It is no surprise that when he was the head coach of the Green Bay Packers, he led the team to three straight and five total NFL Championships in seven years, in addition to winning two Super Bowls. In order to achieve such success, there must have been a lot of ‘hard work, no days off, never quitting, and trying to do more rights than wrong.’
When my sons were very young, I often quoted the philosopher Meister Eckhart saying: “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” I have to admit, however, that I encouraged them to always show gratitude for others rather than for themselves. May I have a do-over please? I would handle this differently today. This week I found an unlikely teacher in Snoop Dog. He taught me how essential it is to look in the mirror and thank yourself for everything that you are, how hard you have worked, and for all of the wonderful things you have done in your life.
Even though many of us may never have the chance to take the podium and thank our loved ones during an award acceptance speech, you probably have a list of people in mind whom you would publicly thank. We should all take a page out of Snoop Dog’s playbook and remember to thank ourselves. Your success, whether it’s professional or personal or both, is a result of hard work, effort, time and commitment. Each of us is wonderfully and beautifully made with our own unique super-powers. Your homework this week is to write yourself into your imaginary acceptance speech. Grab the microphone and thank yourself - there is no better time than now to do so.