With or without the recognition, let your work always speak for you

Iwas in conversation with a young, intelligent male youth, very creative and dynamic in all he does. He shared with me how losing an award almost crumbled his confidence in himself. I had to remind him of who he was before the award, who he is till date and how awards do not define you.

I made him understand that first and foremost, he was doing something that made him visible enough to even be nominated. I told him that what made him known is what he should focus on and in due time, the awards will come from where he did not expect it. I am glad he felt better after speaking with him.

Talking about awards, I have been privileged to get some but it only inspired me to do more however, I always focus on what I am doing because award ceremonies will come and go but my work shall remain and speak for me.

I recently got an award for my cont ribution to women advancement through media from the former Vice President Of Bank Of America, Professor Remi Duyile, at the Legacy Global Summit 2020. It was truly a humbling experience especially because she told me she had been observing me for a while.

That felt good and emphasised what I have always known, which is: ‘Be careful what you do, you never know who is watching’.

Though she is far away in America, thanks to the internet which helps us connect with the world just by a click, she was able to find out all she needed to know about me.

Now to the crux of my message. Awards are good; in fact, they encourage us to do more but know that if that is all you seek to achieve, and all your focus is on, it means you are opening yourself to heartbreaks because if it doesn’t come, it may disrupt your flow.

It is good to expect it but do not base the entirety of all you represent on the validation of others or the accolades they choose to shower on you because, it means that when you are not validated, you feel incomplete. This should not be the case.

Stay focused on your dreams, concentrate on actualising them.

When you do, ensure you sustain the momentum at which you started and continue diligently working it out and living it. If along the way, the recognition and accolades come, accept it, pat yourself on the back and do more. If it doesn’t, keep going, keep pushing with that same drive that birthed the vision so that if the recognition comes or not, your core, your essence irrefutably remains!