May We Have Your Attention Please!!!

Today’s Topics

• The Misguided Quest for Validation ❌

• When The World Ignores You 🌍

  4 Mins Read Time

The Misguided Quest for Validation ❌

By Jo

We live in a world where attention has taken on the characteristics of a new-age addiction. It’s no longer enough to succeed quietly or to be fulfilled on a personal level; now, people are craving validation on a mass scale, hunting for likes, shares, and views as if they were the ultimate proof of their worth. But, in a culture consumed with capturing attention, there’s a risk: that true effort, resilience, and purpose get lost in the noise.

This new drug—attention—has people convinced that a quick dose of recognition is worth more than putting in the real, sustained effort that builds lasting success. But the truth is, the most respected, admired, and impactful people didn’t earn that by just existing online. They gave it all they had, day in and day out, doing the work behind the scenes.

Give it All You’ve Got

In a world where attention has become the goal, it’s easy to overlook the value of giving your all to something meaningful. Hard work, perseverance, and dedication are the tried-and-true methods for achieving anything worth having. Want to be valued, respected, or labeled as "real"? There’s no shortcut. True respect and appreciation come from putting in the work, especially when no one’s watching.

People often think there’s an easy way, a quick fix, or a shortcut to success. But nothing sustainable or worthwhile happens overnight. If it sounds too good to be true, it’s probably a scam. The trials, setbacks, and growth that come from sustained effort—those are the building blocks of real success and fulfillment. The fortune, respect, and recognition don’t come from seeking quick attention; they come from dedicating yourself to something that matters.

Don’t Cheat the Grind

Effort breeds results, and this effort requires sacrifice, resilience, and a readiness to keep pushing even when things get tough. Shortcuts and attention-grabbing tactics may offer temporary satisfaction, but they don’t lay the groundwork for real accomplishments. The accolades, respect, and, yes, even the attention will come naturally when you’ve put in the work consistently. So why focus on capturing attention when you could focus on becoming the best version of yourself?

Attention vs. Fulfillment

Ask yourself: Do you really need the attention? Or is it the respect, value, and genuine sense of accomplishment that you’re after? The real answer is often deeper than surface-level validation. Those who live fulfilling lives aren’t distracted by constant validation. Instead, they are fueled by a passion for what they do, even if that doesn’t lead to instant recognition.

So next time you find yourself chasing attention, take a step back and consider whether it’s truly what you need.

When The World Ignores You 🌍

By Marcus

Do you remember a time when you crushed a goal in life or made a significant achievement, and it went mostly unnoticed? To do work you feel deserves acknowledgment, only to be treated like you're invisible?

It can be very discouraging to feel that you are ignored.

Especially when you believe others who receive the praise and glory are doing very little to deserve it.

Early in my career, I wanted recognition and approval for a job well done. I’ve won awards, received attention, and earned promotions. However, I’ve also been on the side where I felt disappointed because someone I thought was undeserving or didn’t work as hard as I did received accolades I wanted.

Anyone who is competitive wants to perform well. I worked in a few environments where the company culture encouraged us to compete against our peers to drive profits. This can be a great motivator, but it can have the opposite effect.

The Bigger Picture

I’ve been fortunate to lead several teams in my career. I think a good leader is more of a coach who understands the different motivations of each person on their team. One thing I’ve noticed is that some people perform better when they are acknowledged and rewarded, while others who feel slighted can sometimes perform poorly or mentally check out.

I worked for a company that acknowledged top contributors each week. Due to the nature of our work, we worked in silos, and you could put out 100 fires, save the company thousands, and no one would know unless you were vocal about what you did to other team members.

Those who did share, of course, got the attention. I noticed that people who overcame more significant and lesser-known challenges in their work week went unnoticed. I could tell team members felt the same people were recognized every week because they were the most vocal and their problems were the most visible.

Visibility doesn’t always equate to value.

I had a one-on-one with my supervisor at the time, and I requested that I be removed from consideration for these weekly acknowledgments. I shared how I felt it had a negative impact on team morale to see the same people selected repeatedly. I added that if it helps to have one less person in the selection pool, then remove me. Funny thing was my supervisor agreed—they didn’t like how the weekly acknowledgments were set up either.

Setting Your Own Valuation

I think we all want to know we are valued. Being ignored isn’t a great feeling, and that’s why it’s important to look at how we value ourselves.

Now, I tell myself as long as I’m paid the agreed rate, that’s all the attention I need. My paycheck is the recognition. If I’m on your team and on the payroll, then I know I’m valued because if I wasn’t, I’d be gone.

This may seem like a strange conclusion to come to, but in a world where attention can be as elevating as it can be deflating, coming to peace with how you view yourself and your efforts is empowering.

Remember that you’re important even if others can’t see it…yet.