Step 1 – Write a post on a social media platform.

Step 2 – Start with an apology for your need to post.

Step 3 – State the number of years you’ve done all the hard work.

Step 4 – Briefly include that others have helped you but don’t mention their names (after all, this is about you, not them.)

Step 5 – Name three tasks that sound very cumbersome to pad your list, but in reality it’s just filler.

Step 6 – Hint that you may stop being a martyr one day.

Step 7 – Heroically declare that you will continue on.

Step 8 – Make it known that people express their gratitude in real life to legitimize your claims.

Step 9 – Proclaim that you’re not highlighting yourself and your sacrifices for the recognition; you’re simply doing it so that when the job becomes unbearable, you will remember why you do it and it will carry you on in your journey toward sainthood.

Step 10 – Violá! Let the praise pour in 🙌

Seriously, next time just be real. Say, “I did __________, it’s hard work. I’m proud of myself! And it makes me happy to do it.”

Why is everyone so afraid to say when they do something great and they’re proud of themselves? Because I gotta tell ya, these thinly-veiled attempts at acting like you’re not looking for praise are just that – thinly-veiled. Verrryyy thinly-veiled and it just makes you look worse.