Notes by La'Rue

Do you remember my two friends Barbara and Jane from my previous post, “Broken ladders”? If not, go read it asap! I’d like to give you an update and stress the importance of working your way up, as opposed to expecting someone to put you there. For those of you who need a reminder, Barbara and Jane were good friends who started at the bottom of the totem pole together. They made a pact that whoever was the first to “make it”, would help the other, but sadly, Barbara didn’t hold up her end of the bargain.

Left with no other choice but to do it on her own, Jane found success, but it was only because she “worked her way to the top”! Sure, it would’ve been easier and quicker for Barbara to put her there, especially considering the fact that she has so much power. However, because Jane knows the importance of working to get what you want instead of someone giving it to you, she appreciates the success more, because it was all her own doing.

A lot of people need to come to the realization, that they don’t always need someone for everything, let alone to do anything for them. I guess one of the largest reasons why people have shied away from this way of thinking, is because they are so used to being leeches, coat-riders, and recipients of handouts. Besides, nobody wants to work for anything anymore, because society has somehow led us to believe, “It’s not what you know, but who you know”. You see, the “benefit of being” (friends, partners, etc.) gets us jobs, advances and careers, not our hard work.

Make no mistake about it, regardless of how you get to the position you’re at or desire to be, it’s always going to boil down to hard work and how bad do you want it. Barbara could’ve placed me in a position of “winning”, but once I got there, I still would’ve had to put in hard work to stay there!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue