Being raised in a broken home, I often questioned my future and where I would end up. I had no male role model and my mother was not a well woman, especially right after the divorce. I was the lone man in the household at age eleven. Although I was well read and fairly smart, I lacked the financial support that could have allowed me to do the simple things we take for granted. For instance, I never ate out, went to the movies, or bought anything that wasn't a necessity. All through high school, I worked to help support us and never treated myself to frills and non-essentials. That was at a time when my classmates were buying designer shoes and getting their first cars. This continued through college where I had to take out school loans to make it through. So is it no wonder I had no self-esteem?

Wrong! I had plenty to spare. My mother had taught me enough to know I had potential and insisted I go to college, even though we were relatively poor. I was optimistic and eager to rise above my modest means. I had faith enough in myself to understand that college would open many doors of opportunity. I had seen the musical show in the sixties, "How to Succeed in Business, Without Really Trying," with Robert Morse. He stole the show with his "I Believe in You" number which summed up my outlook. He sings to a mirror where he expresses how he believes in himself in a world of corrupt business practices and back-stabbing. It's a terrific segment that I hope you all get to see. But it exemplifies the concept of self-awareness and the ability to find hope in dire times.

I could have easily become a statistic of poverty and despair. But I had enough faith in myself to not let up on my potential. Years later, I brought that along when I raised my daughter, now a college senior and ready to pursue a tough graduate program. I always gave her encouragement when she was down and offered words of wisdom that gave her a glimpse into my former world. She knew where I came from and how she had so many more advantages of our family's prosperity. But it's not all just about money. I know several children of wealthy parents that have no self-worth. They mope about in a depressed state with little or no enthusiasm for life. It's rather sad and pathetic, but it doesn't have to be.

Self-esteem emanates from self-value. Value stems from a slow and consistent foundation that begins from the earliest days of youth. It is derived from family, peers, the classroom, and other social interactions. It's how you see yourself in comparison to others. Are you smarter, prettier, taller, faster, richer, funnier, more popular, or more powerful? Which is most important and how will it effect your actions? Suppose you were none of those, how would you ever be able to have self-worth? It's easier than you think.

Did Bill Gates begin with any of those advantages? Or Edison, Einstein, Henry Ford, or Ben Franklin? If they didn't begin with something special, how did they end up so unique and famous? It's because they didn't need others to give them feedback or acclaim. And now that's the secret. Instead, they were self-motivated. In school, you love to be rewarded for hard work or for physical attributes, such as a flirting smile for being cute. But the true successful don't require any type of praise. They understand that they are different and the world will eventually take notice, So they just move along in their own sphere of influence, doing whatever is needed to conquer their internal problems. This self-motivation is what separates the average from the gifted. They know their own exclusive place and where they stand, without all the typical social affirmations. They know all about self-esteem and generally bubble over with it.

So, as you glide through your own life and are influenced by others, remember what is truly important. It's all about how you visualize yourself and realize your unique talents that define you as an individual. You need not be richer or prettier than everyone else, just smart enough to know that everyone and anyone can make a difference. Self-esteem begins in your head and spreads outward. And final note; this article wouldn't have existed decades ago because it took a certain amount of self-confidence to write it and think it would be read by the likes of you. Thank you for that vote of faith in me, and by the way, I believe in you, too.