Loud & Proud

As a Briton, it is within our culture to talk down our achievements and big up our failures. We are too conscious that people are going to perceive us as self-obsessed or big headed, obviously there’s a line we all need to be aware of, but being proud of yourself is completely different to showing off. Whenever we reach a goal, we quickly move on to focusing on the next thing we can achieve, yet when we fall only slightly short of a target, we tend to dwell on it for hours, days or weeks. We analyse over and over what we did wrong. Stop. Be proud of the hard work you put in, and remember, the best way to learn is by making mistakes.

Self reflection is so important. Even though we should not dwell on errors, I strongly believe that we should reflect on why they happened. There could be a bad habit completely unknown to you that caused the shortfall. Or you may have a strength that is incredibly valuable, reflection could signify that you should improve this strength even further and create your own USP.

If I were to reflect upon the last few years, my biggest achievements include:

• Securing a place at my first choice University

• Being offered my placement and graduate job

• Becoming a Bachelor of Science in Management with Marketing

• Selected to take part in the Leeds NYC Leadership Programme

I often think there are thousands of people that attend University every year, achieve high grades and get accepted into prestigious job roles - so what makes my achievements so special? Well, it’s because I achieved them. All of the above took a lot of hard work, commitment and perseverance. I developed skills that have set me up to start my career, and most of all, I met a variety of exceptional individuals that have constantly supported me, and those people we quite often take for granted unknowingly. When you have been working hard, stressing out, those people have been putting up with your terrible moods and snappy nature yet stayed by your side the whole way through. Make sure you know who they are, make sure they know they are appreciated, make sure those people stay in your life, they’re keepers.

It is equally important to know who your critics are, and when you do, stay away from them. You do not need negativity in your life. People should pull you up, not push you down. There have been many occasions along the way where I have faced many criticisms, people have questioned why I have made a certain decisions and I have doubted myself as a result. Once you remove those critics, you will instantly start to feel more confident and at peace with yourself. Don’t get me wrong, no one is perfect, sometimes the people who usually support you may become a temporary critic, we can forgive them for that.

Remember that your achievements may look completely different to mine, or to the next person. That does not make your achievements any more or less valid. Everyone has different interests and aspirations, all of which contribute to the uniqueness and beauty of your successes. They are a reflection of you.

My message is clear; we should be proud of everything we achieve, we should thank the people that support us, and we should tell others how proud we are of them. A small comment can make the world of difference.

Charlie Farlie x