PROMOTE

Promote what you love instead of what you hate.

I’ll never forget one of the most valuable life lessons I learned last year, which was to not be selfish with my gifts and talents. For a majority of my childhood and teenage years,  I was shy, timid and soft-spoken. I never saw myself as a leader of anything. Fast forward to the now and wow, 18 year old me would be shocked that 27 year old me is teaching the internet people how to do things. I’m standing in front of groups of people giving orders, sharing my story, giving advice. I’m making my presence known in a room instead of figuring out ways how to leave the party early.

When done correctly self-promotion is a tool that can not only help you reach new heights personally and professionally but it can help others around you too.

Think about this, if you don’t promote yourself who else is going to do it? Contrary to what we have been told, there is nothing wrong with a little or a lot of self-promotion. If you have something to offer that can help the world become a better place, then why not?

When you believe that the work you do provides value this type of self-promotion is one out of generosity, not selfishness. In fact not sharing or speaking about your strengths is selfish. You are robbing someone the opportunity to work with you, grow with you and learn from you. Once I started my journey of shamelessly self-promoting my skills and talents I realised just how many people benefited from my positive mindset and savvy business tips. In fact more and more people were telling me that they wish they could get help with x,y,z sooner, or that they were happy to have met me. These were words that I never would have heard if I kept all of my ideas and strategies to myself. The way I see it is this. Say you have a friend who is struggling with a deep issue such as depression or insecurities. The best way to help them see the light is to offer the best piece of advice that you have. That same advice that has helped you to overcome and prosper is what you are sharing with them, now

The way I see it is this. Say you have a friend who is struggling with a deep issue such as depression or insecurities. The best way to help them see the light is to offer the best piece of advice that you have. That same advice that has helped you to overcome and prosper is what you are sharing with them, now hopefully in turn they are able to go forward and help someone else or even refer someone else back to you.

This is where the magic of networking happens.

Last year Forbes had a great article titled “40 Ways To Self-Promote Without Being a Jerk“. My top three favorites were as follows;

1. Serve, don’t sell. Let your actions be your “sales pitch”
2. Be authentic. Social influence is the power of humans interacting authentically with other humans.
3. Match your environment with your goals. If you are ambitious, spend time with ambitious people. If you are gentle and nurturing, seek out gentle and nurturing folks.

Don’t sell yourself short. You are an amazing human being with amazing talents and gifts to offer to the world. Share that so we can all build on each other strengths.

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Photography: Shaunae Teske  Outfit: Apricot Lane Boutique

 

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