YOUR Award Speech

I’m watching the Tony Awards right now and just had an idea.

When I was in college with my friends, learning to be a teacher, several professors shared the following axiom with us:

“If your students succeed it’s their fault; if your students fail it’s your fault.”

That’s a mindset which may help you protect yourself from parents who absolutely believe their children’s failure is your fault, but that kind of defensive posture is a two-edged sword.  Not only do you give up ‘playing to win’ for ‘playing not to lose’, you also send the message to your students that they are perfect and every set back is someone else’s fault.

I have an alternate axiom for you:

“If a person succeeds, it’s because a LOT of people wanted them to, and helped.”

Assignment: Give yourself the greatest award – real or imaginary – you could ever receive and write the Thank You speech you would give on stage.  Rehearse the speech and make sure you don’t leave anyone out, because they ALL helped you in ways you saw and ways you didn’t, and they ALL deserve credit for your success.

Post your speeches below if you like.  Use them to stay humble and to ask for more help, because no matter your level of talent, determination, grit, or anything else, true success will always require the support of others.