I have been a Britney Spears fan since she became popular about fifteen years ago (give or take). I have liked the majority of her songs, but I enjoy them for the sound and beat. When I want to feel inspired, or use music to express something I cannot do otherwise, I generally resort to Tina Dico or classics that have maintained their status not just due to their sound but also their message.Britney may have had a message at one point. If she did, I never got it. She is just fun.

However, her latest song came out, and for the first time, I felt inspired by Britney’s music.

For those of you who haven’t heard Work Bitch (the video is embedded below), the message is simple, but often overlooked: if you want to succeed, and have the things in life you want, you have to work for it.

Her words are simple, grammatically incorrect, seemingly superficial, but actually quite accurate.

Yes, there are those who work hard but seem to be getting nowhere, never appreciated for their endeavors. And granted there are those who have things handed to them, with bitterness ensuing from others towards their welfare. But for the most part, those who we deem successful have worked hard to get where they are, even if they may no longer have to work, and can now reap the rewards of their labor. 

Even those who are not thought to deserve their wealth can be lumped into the working category. We have all heard the arguments against athletes and celebrities. But how much work have they put into their craft? They may have natural talents, but even those talents require thousands of hours of practice to perfect.

Not everyone can reach such extremes of success, but even many who do have the talent, intelligence, or myriad other skills, don’t become successful because they are too trapped in looking at the end result and incapable, or unwilling, to fathom what it entails to reach it.

Any time you want to see results, or achieve a goal (big or small), it won’t happen magically overnight. The higher you want to get, the more you have to climb.

A large part of the misconception is due to what is portrayed, which is the end result, ultimate success, without being privy to the journey there. Britney is one of the few in her genre who more or less details the reality – she doesn’t simply sing about how fun it is at the top, but rather points to the road there.

Success is a process, and it starts with work.

P.S. On a completely unrelated note, when I first heard this song I misheard a part of the lyrics as “Call me the Governor.” That is not what she is saying, however, I still think that line is awesome, and I may just begin using it. Yes folks, call me the governor.

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