It is so important to get respect for what you do and at the same time give it. — Estelle Parsons

It is so important to get respect for what you do and at the same time give it.

Author: Estelle Parsons

Insight: There's something almost forgotten about the idea of mutual respect in how we talk about work and relationships these days. We're usually focused on getting what we deserve—and rightfully so—but we often miss the quieter truth: the moment you stop respecting what someone else does, you've actually undermined your own claim to respect. It's like respect is a muscle that atrophies if you only exercise it in one direction. This matters in everyday life more than we notice. Think about the coworker you dismiss because their role seems "less important," or the parent at home whose labor goes unacknowledged, or even how you treat the cashier versus the CEO. When respect only flows one way, it stops being respect and becomes something closer to entitlement. And entitlement is brittle—it breaks the moment someone questions why you deserve it. The real insight is that demanding respect while being stingy with it doesn't work. It creates resentment, not admiration. But when you genuinely recognize the effort and skill in what others do, something shifts. People sense whether you actually value them or just want to be valued yourself. That reciprocal quality isn't just morally sound—it's actually how you build the kind of respect that lasts.