Respect by Arethra Franklin.
It’s an incredible song – the signature song of a unique, powerful and talented woman. It’s so full of fire and life that it has a weight of its own.
I like it, in other words.
But it has a curious history.
Franklin didn’t write it. It’s not clear who wrote it, but Otis Redding sang it first. A man had to sing it first because it’s a man’s song.
The message is I work hard all day to provide for you, so when I get home I’d like some respect.
It’s a reasonable ask.
Also, no one cares.
Men need respect. It’s food for our psyches. It’s why so many of us do seemingly foolish things, from joining gangs to working ourselves to death to going to war. This is also where the appeal of video games comes from.
It’s real easy for men and women to give men respect.
It tends not to happen, though. Unless you earn respect, you don’t get it. Even when you earn it, you probably won’t get it.
Now, sure, Otis – great as he is – is no Arethra.
But there’s a bigger reason why a woman demanding respect can be such a hit, while a man demanding it gets forgotten.
And this is a Good thing.
Like all Good things, it can lead to bad things – like gang violence and video game addiction. Channelled properly, though, and this is why men are willing to do literal herculean tasks.
For the right respect from the right person, I absolutely would clean manure from stables or wrestle an invulnerable lion.
People have died for a lot less than mere respect.
Luckily, though, that’s not the only path ahead of you.
If you want respect, you must become the best version of yourself.
You need to face challenges and defeat evil.
That’s easier with the right skills at hand.
Here’s one such skill that, no matter what you want to achieve, is essential: