Ronalfy.com — The Personal Website of Ronald Huereca

I have noticed throughout my day job and the blogosphere that there are many people wanting various forms of credit. Credit for starting a trend, credit for an idea, or credit just because.

There are many small trivial things I do that some people find really helpful. However, it irks me when someone comes up to me and says, “Hey, do this for me and I’ll give you credit for it.” Is credit really justification for doing a particular task or thing? I’d much rather do something because I want to rather than what rewards I hope to gain from doing the task.

Sometimes when people tell me they’ll give me credit for a task, it’s because:

• The task isn’t really that great.
• The person isn’t likable and wants to get things done.
• The person wants the perception that he/she is helping you out.

As much as I despise the credit game, there are some points when I think it matters.

When Others Can Take Credit From You

Say for example that you have created a logo for a friend. Your friend says, “Hey, thank you.” When other people ask your friend who designed the logo, your friend says, “Oh, I had that contracted out.”

Not cool. It’s either time to lose a friend, or to speak up and say, “I was the one who created the logo. Are you looking for one yourself?”

When Getting Credit Helps You

There are other times when taking credit may benefit you if you have proof in a tangible form. For example, let’s say you have helped increase sales on a particular product. As a result, your sales manager gave you a certificate stating that you were the lead salesperson for a particular month. Would you toss that certificate?

The certificate may be meaningless to an extent, but it may help you if you are looking for another job. It’s one thing to say to someone, “I increased sales.” It’s another thing to say, “I’ve increased sales, and I was awarded the top salesperson for May. Here, take a look at this certificate.”

Conclusion

I often take the humble approach when it comes to taking credit for things. However, it irks me when others will take credit for my ideas, or not give proper credit to me for helping with their success.

I’ve struggled with whether to take credit for certain things, and I am not out to make a name for myself. Perhaps it’s about time to be more proactive, no?

Please weigh in with any thoughts on the matter. Thank you for reading.

Related posts:

1. Credit Woes
2. Is Forced Change Ever a Good Thing?
3. 500 Words – It’s Okay to Give Illegals Credit
4. Announcing Reader Appreciation Week
5. Is Ignorance Really Bliss?