Boy, this is a tough one to write for the LinkedIn crowd in this day and age.

We live in a time where so many professionals are questioning their career choices (I thought everyone said I should learn to code!?), and on a deeper level, questioning their value as people.

It’s hard to know what we should stand up for, and what we should accept.

When it comes to our ethics, our morals, our wages, or the box we’re put into by others—it’s easier to ride the wave than to stand up for ourselves.

It’s easier to slowly degrade into someone else’s view of our potential.

And history is littered with ambitious, highly intelligent people who fought for what was right and got punished for it.

In the short term? I can’t promise that standing up for yourself and your value will give you what you want.

But that’s the thing about choices made based on morals and ethics: they may not be lucrative, but they are right.

And being right is important.

Whether the world recognizes our actions or not, we have to believe that doing the right thing is its own reward.

And who knows what good is waiting for you on the other side of reclaiming your true worth?