If you’re like me, you were raised to respect your elders, say please and thank you, and countless other rules of etiquette. You were probably also raised to be modest for fear of being arrogant; and as well meaning as that life lesson might’ve been, it can backfire on us as adults.

There’s an old school of thought that says your awesomeness will speak for itself and you will be rewarded accordingly. However, it doesn’t quite work that way, and you could be selling yourself short by not speaking up.

Over the past few months, I’ve talked to a few women who were borderline ashamed to share their recent accomplishments- one of whom had her work featured in a national publication. These women didn’t want to brag, but they had every reason to celebrate and share their successes.

It’s perfectly okay to speak up about the amazing things you accomplish, especially at the office. If you completed a project at work, pat yourself on the back and make sure others recognize the role you played in your team’s success. Doing this reinforces the value you bring to your employer, which can make it easier to get a raise or promotion down the line. And if you’re an entrepreneur, you definitely need to master the art of self-promotion because if you don’t believe in what you have to offer, nobody else will.

I know it can be awkward and uncomfortable to talk about yourself and the great things that you’ve done, so try out this exercise. Whenever you accomplish something you’re proud of, write it down in a notebook or journal. Every so often, check back on the list of things you’ve done. I bet they’ll make you want to tell the world how amazing you are!

Here’s to tooting your own horn and reaping all of the rewards for your hard work in 2017!

Bianca Gay is a lawyer, boxer, pathological reader, and spreader of good vibes. Feel free to reach out to her on Twitter @BJGEsq.