Thursday, April 10, 2008
How to Toot Your Own Horn!
There's a great new book out by author Peggy Klaus, entitled "Brag: The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It". In it, she gives tips for bringing positive attention to yourself without being obvious about it. For example, someone might ask you "What's new with you?" Never look down and say "nothing." Instead, talk about a challenge you recently overcame, no matter how small it might be. For example, I would say, "I blogged for "her" magazine today, and actually figured out how to do that on my computer!" A small achievement every time, no doubt, but an achievement for me everytime I am actually able to push the right buttons on my computer to do it!Another trick is to forgo all naysaying. Thoughts can become reality and if you think you can or cannot do it, you are right either way! For example, at a meeting never say anything like, "Well, this is probably a stupid idea, but.." Instead, say something exuding confidence like, "I think I have an idea that may work." The only reason people second guess themselves aloud anyway is because they think it lowers other people's expectations of them..it's like speaking on a tight rope and you want to make sure the net is right there to catch you. Get on that tightrope with no net the next time you want to convey an idea that you have! This goes for talking with your husband about how to get the baby potty trained and it goes for chairing a corporate board meeting too! Words have power and self-talk is particularly powerful. Be decisive in your speech and watch things change in your life almost immediately!
Finally, give everything you say a good spin! Make like the political candidiates or the pundits on TV! To get comfortable tooting your own horn, take a few minutes and come up with a couple of sound bites about your life and activities. You may want to say something like, "I'm a soccer mom who mountain climbs when I'm not behind the wheel of the car." Then the trick is to really DO it! :-)
posted by meami craig at 8:01 AM
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