Thanking Myself

Sometimes the person you owe the biggest "thank you" to, is you.

In the United States, it's Thanksgiving week, which means this Thursday we will spend time with family and friends, carve up a turkey, and watch a little football. Given the holiday's name, it's also an opportunity to show sincere appreciation for the people who have supported you, given you opportunities, or loved you unconditionally.

For the first time in a long time, our empty nest will be full, as both our boys, plus a girlfriend, will be home for most of the week, and I'm profoundly thankful for that. It will be fantastic to spend time with them, simply relishing a boisterous, chaotic house for the week with cooking, laughing, and maybe even a cocktail or two shared by all. In other words, your standard-issue American Thanksgiving right out of a Hallmark movie.

That being said, I am going to do something I've never done before: I will take a moment of reflection and allow myself to be grateful for, well, me.

To be crystal clear, I hate how that sounds more than I can even express. On the surface, it sounds conceited and boastful – two qualities I truly loathe. But, if you dig a little deeper, there's meaning in what I'm trying to convey. As a solopreneur, I find that if I don't pause every once in a while and give myself a bit of credit, sometimes nobody else will. Whether in business or in life, to keep going, it's necessary to believe in yourself, acknowledge your path, and, to the point of this missive, be thankful for what you've accomplished.

With that in mind, I want to thank myself for:

Overcoming my own fear of being a solopreneur: As anyone who's traveled the path of a solopreneur knows, it's as lonely as it is rewarding. Candidly, for a long time, I wasn't sure I had the stomach to fully commit to working for myself. It was a fear I had to face and, ultimately, conquer - and I'm profoundly thankful I did as I truly love the life I've been able to create through brandivate.

Facing challenges: Easy isn't in the job description of someone who was bold (or dumb) enough to start their company at the height of the COVID pandemic in July of 2020. It hasn't been easy to build brandivate, nor has it been easy to maintain while striving towards continued growth. However, without the challenges I've faced, I wouldn't be here today. So, as odd as it sounds, I'm happy for the speedbumps along the way.

My weaknesses: It might sound bizarre, but I'm thankful for my shortcomings and the ability to recognize them as they've forced me to grow with intention. Comprehending how to really manage a P&L, price marketing and branding services correctly, and to single-task to produce better and more focused work have all been tremendously helpful to me and brandivate.

The courage to always be me: Early in my career, I worked tirelessly to be the version of me I felt others wanted me to be: my bosses, my coworkers, and even my clients. Over time, I learned that doing that only means I'd end up treading water in a sea of professional mediocrity. It takes courage – and a lot of it – to fully be yourself, failings and all. I know I'm not everyone's cup of (insert beverage here), but by being me, I've found an audience that appreciates who I am and what I do.

Putting myself first: I've really prioritized both my physical and mental health the past two years, and it shows in many obvious and not-so-obvious ways. I feel more creative, energized, and have an overall sense of calm that, frankly, I've never had. By focusing on daily exercise, eating right (most of the time), and not working 74 hours every week for months on end, I'm inching closer to the person I long to be.

My insatiable curiosity: I love learning, and I'm always keeping my eye out for new and novel tools that will make me better and elevate the work I do for brandivate clients. I may be 56, but possessing the desire to continually pursue my own curiosity and finding new things to learn is my personal fountain of youth.

I thought this blog would be difficult to write due to my distaste for being boastful and self-congratulatory, as I mentioned above. Much to my amazement, the words poured out of me far more easily than I suspected, and, even more surprisingly, it felt wonderful to write this. That realization didn’t come easily – it came from recognizing that gratitude isn’t just something you share with others; many times, you owe it to yourself.

It's always important to express gratitude to those around you, especially on Thanksgiving. However, maybe this year, take a few minutes for yourself to reflect on your personal and professional voyage. My sense is that if you're really honest with yourself, you'll find some things to truly thank yourself for this November.