The danger of premature recognition – How early-career awards can kill great potential

You’re young, still grinding and finding your feet in this oversubscribed world, then, from nowhere, some company calls you to give you an award for being “the best.”

It can feel incredibly validating to receive this type of recognition, especially when you’re just starting out on your career path. The allure of being singled out as exceptional, even if you’re still in the early stages of your professional journey, can be hard to resist.

However, the reality behind these so-called accolades is often quite different from the glossy veneer. These companies that offer these “awards” are typically profiting off the ego and desire for external validation that is common among young professionals.

When you dig into the background of these organizations, you’ll often find that they’re simply a group of people who are unemployed or struggling to make ends meet, and have found a way to monetize the hunger for recognition that many young people experience.

The companies will typically ask you to solicit votes from your friends and family, which involves shelling out substantial sums of money. In the end, you and your social circle end up spending a lot of money just to obtain this “recognition,” which ultimately serves the company’s bottom line more than it does your own growth and development.

Meanwhile genuine awards are typically reserved for those who have truly reached the “peak” of their careers and are being celebrated for their remarkable achievements. These types of accolades are meant to honour the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and success.

When you’re young and receive one of these “premature” awards, it creates an illusion of having “arrived” – the moment you accept the award, your mindset shifts subconsciously (yes, you may not even be aware your mindset has shifted).

You start to believe that you’ve already made it, forgetting that you’re still a young chap on the journey, grinding and growing. This illusion of success often leads you to stop doing the necessary “dirty” work that true success requires, as you now perceive such tasks as being below you. Over time, your peers who have continued to grind and grow will surpass you in life, while you rest on the laurels of a hollow recognition.

While awards can be a wonderful acknowledgment of one’s efforts and achievements, it’s important to learn to reject them when they come too early. When these companies call you for awards, express gratitude for the recognition but politely decline. Tell them you’re not interested. Personally, I’ve done this four times, including turning down an honorary doctorate degree, and I didn’t die. You won’t die too.

For now, the focus must be on the “dirty” work and keeping the grind. We won’t allow anyone to give us any false sense of “arrival.” When the time is full, awards will follow naturally. If you’re my friend and have ever asked for my vote for such an award, and I didn’t participate, it’s because I don’t support these schemes. I believe you should allow yourself the time and space to grow naturally.

On this path to greatness, one of the most valuable lessons is to kill the desire for external validation. Don’t wait for someone to tell you you’re good, to give you an award, or to endorse you. Instead, build an internal validation system. Accept yourself, continue to work on improving, and when you truly reach your “peak,” you won’t need an award to announce it – the world will recognize it on its own.

It’s important to understand that the journey to success is rarely a straight line. There will be ups and downs, successes and failures, and it’s crucial to keep a level head throughout it all. Premature awards can create a false sense of security, causing you to lose the hunger and drive that are essential for continued growth and achievement.

The pursuit of greatness is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires consistent effort, resilience, and a willingness to embrace the “dirty” work that may not be glamorous but is nevertheless vital to your long-term success.

By rejecting these early accolades and focusing on the fundamentals of your craft, you’ll be better positioned to achieve sustainable, meaningful success that is truly your own.

Remember, the true measure of your worth is not in the awards or recognition you receive, but in the impact you make and the lives you touch. Keep your eyes on the horizon, stay true to your values, and trust that if you continue to put in the hard work, the world will eventually take notice and celebrate your achievements in a way that is authentic and well-deserved.

Thank you for reading today’s episode. Continue to follow the insightful articles I share on this page.

See you.

Writer: Daniel Fenyi

The writer is a licensed counselor, professional writer, A.I enthusiast and conference speaker who guides young people through his writings. You can reach him via email [email protected]