Why You Need to Be "Too Big for Your Britches"

My goals and dreams collage banner Has anyone ever told you not to toot your own horn? Or to get your head out of the clouds, to stop thinking of yourself as such a big shot? 

Growing up (I'm the youngest of four girls), I was told more than once to not get "too big for my britches." It's a phrase that means don't put on airs, don't toot your own horn or be a Prima donna. While most of the time this was said in a joking way, the message was clear: don't think higher of yourself than others do. 

That is complete and utter bull. 

While I'm thankful that my family taught me the important values of sharing, giving, being generous, taking care of others and not putting yourself first all the time (that's just plain selfish), it's essential that we, particularly as creatives and entrepreneurs, think of ourselves higher than others do. 

We are our own cheerleading squad, pep talk-giver, encouragement department and boss in one. It's up to us to create and follow big, messy goals . It's up to us to build ourselves up by doing things that scare the crapola out of us . Doing so helps us change and grow in ways that we can't imagine. 

Zig Ziglar, the famed inspirational speaker, told the story of being a kid and doing a really bad job at weeding in the garden. He was hot and tired and the work was boring, so he just did a slapdash job and went to tell his mother he was done. His Mom patiently explained that while this would be fine work for someone else his age, she expected more of him because he wasn't average. 

And that's how we should see ourselves: un-average. 

Able of more than others think possible. Capable of feats that we maybe aren't even aware of ... yet. Ready and willing to get too big for the box that others want to put us into.

Has anyone ever told you not to "toot your own horn" or be "too big for your britches?" What did you take from that and how do have you overcome that as an adult?