“The Need for Endless Self-Promotion”

That’s what one consultant told me is her greatest frustration with her practice.

She’s not alone. I hear this all the time from folks in our community.

The more you have a healthy dose of humility, empathy, respect for other people … the more you probably dislike “tooting your own horn.”

I get it. I feel the same way.

And yet, getting out there in the world — reaching out to people, developing and nurturing relationships — is essential if we are going to make the difference we were meant to make.

After all, if you don’t reach the people you’re meant to reach, you do both them and you a disservice. No one benefits when you hold back from spreading the good stuff you have to offer.

So let’s reframe this whole notion of “self-promotion” and make it easier for you to reach out in a way that’s authentic for you.

Here’s the key: Your message is not about you. It’s about the potential you see in others.

Instead of thinking you’re supposed to tell them how great you are, flip it around and start telling them how great they are.

Let them know you understand them.

Let them know about the possibilities you see for them. Show them how they can get to a better place. (Perhaps with your guidance, perhaps in some other way.)

Let them know you care.

Once you make this shift in perspective, it becomes much easier to reach out to people without feeling icky about “self-promotion.”

Well, that’s the advice I give my clients, anyway. And it seems to work for them.

But in the last few days, I’ve realized that I’m not taking my own medicine. (That happens so often, right? We don’t treat ourselves nearly as well as we treat our clients.)

You see, I’ve been holding back.

A whole lot has happened this year in the GSCA community. We’ve learned a great deal in our group programs and one-on-one private client work. So many insights, ideas, strategies that could be really useful to you.

And yet we’ve shared little of it with you.

My apologies! I’m determined to turn over a new leaf as we turn over a new calendar.

So you’ll be hearing more from us in the coming year. A lot more.

It seems like a new year is just the time for a fresh start and more energy — since my hunch is that you’re looking ahead to the best you can make 2014. (As am I!)

I hope what we have to offer opens up some possibilities for you.

Best wishes for a new year that’s rewarding in every way.