“What would 2014 you think of you now?”

This is the question that Amy Poehler recently asked Quinta Brunson on Amy’s podcast, “Good Hang with Amy Poehler.”

Brunson’s answer is a powerful lesson in owning our accomplishments with confidence and not demuring to others’ expectations that we stay small.

She said:
“I think 2014 me would be like, ‘Exactly. Period.’ Because I was a very determined, knew-where-I-was-going girl. I do not like to do that thing where people pretend like, ‘I had no idea this could happen to me!’ Like, no. I made every single move in my life so this could happen to me.”

So, with a nod to Quinta, this is Mantra #7 in my 50 Mantras series:

“𝙊𝙬𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨. 𝘿𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙖𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙞𝙯𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢.”

I highly recommend that you watch the whole interview, and especially this clip. Quinta is so matter-of-fact in her answer, there’s no doubt that it’s true.

You 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 that she worked for everything she has achieved. And, you are rooting for her because she’s not boastful or gross about it.

When times are hard- like now- it’s easy to feel needy. Like everyone else is in on a secret and you’re not.

But what if you flipped your approach and brought Quinta-level confidence to your life?

You didn’t get to where you are by accident. You worked for it.

You did it before and you can do it again.

You’re not looking for a hand-out or an exception. You’re looking for an opportunity.

Share your accomplishments clearly and without apology. See what happens.