Comments on: Of Tightropes, Humility, and Self-Promotion

By: Elli

Elli — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:20:24 +0000

Kneale,

Thank you so much for commenting! It’s great to have you expand on your idea of the dance of humility and self-promotion. Your real-life example is typical of many of us who are “talented, curious, and interested” but don’t want to be seen as full of ourselves.

Our potential clients are looking to trust us. If we come with integrity and humility, it sets up the bank of good will. We can take a withdrawal when explaining why we fit so much better than our competition. We also find the words that are not full of hyperbole.

If our businesses are set up to be in service of others, we come with the necessary humility. The confidence comes from just being comfortable in our skins.

By the way, I’ll have to introduce you to this Kneale guy. You guys would get along great!

~Elli

By: Kneale Mann

Kneale Mann — Wed, 20 May 2009 15:52:30 +0000

Hey Elli,

Excellent piece and I must get to know this “Kneale” fellow. LOL Thanks for the inclusion in your wonderful piece.

I was speaking with a valued colleague this morning and she was beating me up on why I feel compelled to qualify my qualities. I told her that since childhood, I have always had trouble with egos. She then reminded me that potential clients want to know I am smart and talented, curious and interested. There, I said it. Was that egotistical? Was it okay? Are you sure?

Humility and confidence can co-exist. So can living in service of others which in-turn makes us feel good.

@knealemann

By: Elli

Elli — Sun, 17 May 2009 17:58:48 +0000

Ian,

It definitely never a good idea to throw your business card at others. Certainly, it gives the impression you are about numbers, not people.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject! Perhaps a guest blog or interview on this blog?

Let’s talk!

By: Elli

Elli — Sun, 17 May 2009 17:48:28 +0000

Danny,

Thanks for adding your ideas to this discussion! You add some nuggets of your own that challenge many of us daily. There are so many potential discussions here!

The biggest nugget, as I see it, is the one about accepting that you got something wrong. We can be tough on ourselves when we don’t meaure up to our standards. It takes great strength to admit when one is wrong and set about to fix the mistake.

A mentor once sat me down and said, “You will never make a mistake that you can’t fix.” Her words stick with me years later and I’d say that this is true for most of us. Humility enables us to accept responsibility.

By: Danny Brown

Danny Brown — Sun, 17 May 2009 14:54:06 +0000

Wow, some really deep nuggets to chew on here, Elli – great stuff.

To me, I see humility as many things. It can be:

* Knowing you got something wrong, accepting it, and working to make it better.

* Knowing that you’re not the only person on a great team.

* Open to people’s suggestions and not kicking them back immediately.

* Making people better by being better yourself.

It’s true that gender and race still play a huge part in people’s beliefs and perception. Sadly this will continue until everyone allows humility into their lives and accepts people for talent and not skin colour or sex.

Thanks for making me question where I see things – we all need that from time to time.

By: Ian Farmer

Ian Farmer — Sun, 17 May 2009 12:46:28 +0000

Really like your “conversation” style, I’ve used this to great effect to, funnily enough sort of in conection with your question would you throw your business card at everyone. The blog post was a bout networking – http://www.customerflypaper.com/the-best-damn-sales-blog/480.

Should you throw your business cards at everyone – no maybe not, but you certainly should get theirs. Why? Ask me – lets start a conversation!

Ian

By: Elli

Elli — Sat, 02 May 2009 15:28:57 +0000

Jim,

Thanks for the beautifully written comment! Your words exemplify what I was saying about the clients who inspire me the most.

It’s marvelous having people such as yourself creating value-based businesses!

By: Jim @smashadv

Jim @smashadv — Sat, 02 May 2009 04:29:24 +0000

Humility is something that’s almost spiritual to me. As a copywriter I have to balance extreme confidence with humility every day. One way I’ve learned is to be as grateful as possible for as much as possible. I’m lucky to be breathing, much less doing something I love for a living (and being good at it). So self-promotion for me is basically being as honest and grounded as possible. Heck, I don’t even have my name on my own company website because I believe the work/ideas are what matter most.

For me, humility is something i absolutely must practice if I’m ever going to be successful It’s a lot like getting on my knees every day (an act of humility in itself). Great post Elli.

By: Elli

Elli — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:59:42 +0000

Michael,

Thanks for all you have said about humility and self-promotion. It is a tricky tightrope and yet, we all have the tools to get across successfully. One thing we haven’t mentioned is that trusting yourself is key to walking the tightrope.

By: Michael Benidt

Michael Benidt — Fri, 01 May 2009 12:59:25 +0000

Great thoughts to continue the discussion, Elli. I’ve written way too much about this already so I’ll shut up and let others do get their two cents worth in. However, although I don’t know her, I’m with Ms. Penta when she says that the antidote to all the self-puffery “is to be passionate, honest, and act with integrity as this is truly what brings people to want to do business with you.”