Monday, February 04, 2008

Graceful Self-Promotion

This advice is from, of all places, a year-old Cosmogirl magazine. It's aimed at teenagers: "Here's the trick to talking yourself up without sounding conceited." (I don't think I've heard the word "conceited" since high school.)

But anyone with work to sell needs to know how to self-promote gracefully. Here's one very good tip from the article: "Get psyched." We're advised to think of our most spontaneous friend talking with excitement about what she/he has been up to. "You don't feel like she's bragging because you're having so much fun listening to her, right?"

Basically let your passion for doing the work show, and it doesn't sound like petty personal bragging. Instead, what we're doing is getting other people excited too.


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5 comments:

Debra said...

I really like that one, Peggy. Allowing people to get caught up in your enthusiasm...Great idea!

Mamie said...

Interesting that you would write this when I've been thinking about my next blog post entitled, "I Crack Myself Up!" Now I'm more motivated than ever to get it in writing. Thanks for the push and here's to self-promotion!

Peggy Payne said...

I'm glad y'all approve, Debbie and Mamie. I've always been fairly outspoken on behalf of my own undertakings.

"I Crack Myself Up! is one I look forward to seeing. I'm assuming this is about your sense of humor, right?

Irene Latham said...

A great book on the subject is called Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It. Check it out!

Peggy Payne said...

Thanks for this reminder, Irene. I read reviews of it when it came out but haven't gotten to the book. I know that one of the reviews talked about self-promotion as an act of authenticity.

The full title (if this is the one you're talking about is) Brag: The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It.