A best selling author told me recently that he worked hard to get to where he is now, and that he didn’t need anyone while attempting to get to success. He stated emphatically that his road map worked well for him. Appalled, I looked at him in amazement and was shocked to hear this from someone of his statue. The following statements are mine, as I open the floor for discussion on giving credit where it’s due. To wit: You have come a long way since grad school, and/or when you wrote that first novel and ascended up the steps to literary accomplishment. Moreover, you have weathered all kinds of storms just to belong in select company for your muse to legitimately be considered the write stuff for acceptance. Yes, you’ve worked damn hard and have come a mighty long way. The aforementioned statements have been one time or another in your transitional stage in contemplating and experiencing the many lamentations on a psychological note. The conscious mind won’t let you forget that due diligence is par for anyone’s course when it comes to perseverance. This essay brings about a thought that came to mine when this same author asked me a simple question – “Alvin who would you consider the one person you would credit being instrumental in you becoming the writer you are today?” Without hesitation I said Jesus Christ, but he looked at me and gave the impression that he thought I’d say anything but that.

I know for a fact that if I posed the same question, the majority of my peers would answer as I did in paying homage to Him above who strengthens us in all we do. In lieu of Divine prominence, and with no disrespect, I want to digress a bit and ask my fellow bloggers a few questions here. Just how DID you get this far in life? Who has been that that individual or collective entity that can define your success? Acknowledging that someone helped you reach your present state of being, whether it was a special person with a few encouraging words, a former teacher, a family member, a person you’ve always looked up to, you did not do it alone! Whoever it was, someone cared enough to give you that extra push and demanded ore of you in your accomplishments. Another question I will ask of you – How much have you given back? Unfortunately complacency more often than not has tendencies of creeping into our sphere of influence where we forget to patronize, thank, and recognize those that helped us to reach the road to success. In your desire to write and publish that next masterpiece you envision, don’t be surprised, or naïve enough that you won’t understand how reality will force you to be reminiscent of things past, and demand some sort of credibility.

If you’re like me, you’ll automatically respect and be in awe of those that have really far exceeded, and know from one end to another that they inevitably will credit much of their success to someone else. You know, that person who listened to all of your problematic issues and bouts of frustration that directed you toward modicums of stability to gain confidence in the face of failure. Those successful people would not have achieved their status if it weren’t for others’ assistance. Alas, we are human and possess certain frailties that allow us to err, albeit no intentionally, but it happens. As successful writers, publicists, editors, agents, book reviewers, and publishers we tend not to share some knowledge to those in need. We’re not infallible. Nothing will be given to us without a row to how that wouldn’t be tougher than the last one. The scales are still unbalanced and we’re not so prolific where we own anything to call the shots…therefore, we must network more and help each other to ensure that what we have wrought is our stake hold for more of what we’ve earned thus far in this journey. I, like you, hope to make sure we do not get the big head and forget from whence we came. We would want to be astute in tightening our work, write with fortitude, and allow time to be the true harbinger of worth. We are, and should be inherently responsible for our own destiny.

I close humbly and remorseful, and ever so cognizant of not being accused of all of the above. I want to be accountable for the decisions I make in recognizing my peers and embracing their work. Thus, I feel that we have o reinvest our assets – ourselves! It’s a must to give our knowledge and education to progenies and practitioners following behind us. We then would be giving something back to them. Yes, the conscious mind will implore your conscience to forever ask – How did you get this far in life without giving credit where it’s really due?