What do you have to say for yourself?

Today at lunch an interesting subject came up…self promotion.

I would guess we have all worked with someone—or perhaps you are someone—who is really good at stating their own value. Some do it more frequently and at the expense of others…that is egocentric behavior and not the path I want to recommend to anyone! I do, however, think it is important to be honest with ourselves and what we bring to the world.

Are you quick to put yourself down or joke in a self-effacing manner, yet reluctant to say how good you feel about your contributions to a project? That seems to be natural behavior. We’re taught not to brag, and for good reason. It leads to feelings of self-importance and eventually we become legends in our own minds. On the other hand, having a sense of what our personal strengths are; how we are uniquely gifted and what things bring out the best in us, equips us to respond when those skills are required.

Yesterday, I shot video right here in my own backyard. The purpose was for me to talk about me. I needed to explain my business and how I approach this whole consulting/speaking/changing the world thing. (Watch for the video to appear soon on my website.) It was really hard. I wrote a few notes, but I didn’t use a teleprompter (probably should have). I had to identify the USP (Unique Selling Proposition) available through me! In the end, it was energizing to think about those things. I like what I do and I’m good at it…”I’m Good Enough, I’m Smart Enough and Doggone it, People Like Me!” (Thank you, Al Franken!)

Here it is…the big video shoot with my friend, Scott Bloom, of Bloom Video Productions. Obviously, it was a “head” shot. My well-worn sandals and sweats reflect the Mimi you’d usually find in our backyard! Now when you see it on the web site, you’ll have the true image.

I realized as I prepared for the interview that there are things that do set me apart, and I have skills (Yes! I have SKILLS!) that might be of unique benefit to a potential client.

In my workshops, I suggest that we all do regular self assessment. I think it’s a good idea to write down your strengths, and the opportunities where they may be of use; and your weaknesses, and times they might sabotage a situation.

Spend some serious time with this exercise and see how honest you can be. If you struggle thinking of positive things about yourself follow the rules below. If you need more guidance, write me and I will put you in touch with some folks I know who are professional coaches and great at helping people through this important process. Here are Mimi’s guidelines…these are kind of like the guidelines I gave for cleaning out my closet…just things that worked for me and not to be confused with what you might learn from a professional life coach !

1.     Think of times that bring you real joy? What is your role during those times? Are you strategizing, writing, helping people work together, being creative, organizing things? Chances are, if it makes you feel happy, it is something you are inherently good at.
2.     Break your skills into small attributes. Instead of “I complete projects on deadline” think “I remain calm under pressure; I communicate expectations and time lines well to my team, my sense of humor makes tough projects fun…”
3.     Don’t minimize things just because you think it’s something that everyone can do. No skill should be taken for granted. Especially if you show up at my house this Thanksgiving and you’re gifted at making gravy. Every gift counts!
4.     Think of specific ways you can use those skills. If you’re great at caring for your lawn, maybe it’s a gift you can offer to someone who is short on time, or recovering from an illness.
5.     DO NOT compare yourself to others…whether it’s to make yourself feel superior or your comparisons leave you feeling inferior. Perhaps when you listen to conversations at work or gatherings, you feel like everyone else has a better vocabulary than you do or that they can express themselves more articulately. So! Use little words! Little words can express great ideas and big words can hide a lack of any ideas. Just express yourself! Do not let fear block the channel for all the good things you have to offer.
6.     When you consider your weaknesses, be honest—not harsh. If I say “I wish I’d just shut up!” That gets me nowhere. If I realize that sometimes my tendency to chatter can either take a group off topic and waste time, or steal the floor from others who need to follow the advice in #5, then I can make progress. Beating myself up over the areas I need to improve won’t help me. Being aware of times my weaknesses might come out for exercise can help me keep them in check.
7.     Figure out ways to share good news about you. You may not get to have a video camera in your back yard. But you can send an email to your boss that says something like, “Thanks for the opportunity to work on the XYZ project. I wanted to share some of the things I feel I learned from the experience…”
8.     Help others identify their strengths by giving specific praise. “Joe, you did a great job on that project!” Isn’t as helpful as, “Joe, your ability to quickly assimilate data and then express it in a way everyone could understand really moved our team forward with this.”

Okay…you get the idea. Know thyself! Love yourself with all the limitless, forgiving and unconditional love God wraps around you. And then…share it with just the same sense of abundance!

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