Wouldn’t it be nice if effective small business marketing and self promotion practices felt natural and authentic? If you truly care about your customers, self promotion deserves your attention.
Many negative connotations typically come to mind when thinking about self-promotion, all of which keep many people, especially women, from feeling comfortable and confident when talking about themselves. You’ve heard all the name-calling: conceited, show-off, braggart, arrogant, egotistical.
Women seem to have a stronger concern about being considered obnoxious or egotistical than men. We worry that someone will wonder “who does she think she is.” Women often talk about our responsibilities rather than our achievements. We’ll rehash our previous job descriptions instead of boasting about our accomplishments. Fortunately, the most successful women have gotten over that fear. They’re not afraid to tell everyone who’ll listen how great they are, and frankly we should applaud them.
Maybe you feel that it is inappropriate to promote yourself in any way, especially when you meet new people. Have you ever met someone who asked about what you do, and watched their look of confusion when you gave them a barely adequate answer, all because you didn’t want to seem pushy or conceited?
If you are good at what you do, then it is essential that others know about it. This will help increase your business – and it is not necessary to feel guilty or shy about promoting yourself.
Most people avoid self promotion out of fear. Know that the fear of being denied what you want is not the same as the fear of rejection. Being told “no” in response to a sales pitch does not signal the end of a relationship. It doesn’t have anything to do with accepting or rejecting you as a human being. It doesn’t even have anything to do with increasing or decreasing your perceived worthiness. All it means is “No. I do not want what you are offering.”
So what do you do if you are uncomfortable promoting yourself? Ask your internal monitor to nudge you when you move away from instead of toward selling or self-promotion. Don’t try to change anything yet, just notice. “Just noticing” will allow you to acknowledge your current attitudes toward selling and self promotion. As you become more aware of how avoiding self-promotion keeps you from authentic engagement with your best clients and customers, your reluctance will shift into eagerness to reach and support the people you serve.
The last and perhaps most important issue to realize is that you’ve earned the right to celebrate your accomplishments. Many times when something great happens to us we can’t believe it and we wind up questioning ourselves as to whether or not we deserve it.
Be proud of yourself and your accomplishments. You’ve earned it and you should share it with others.
Maria Novak is Managing Director of eWomen Network, Greater Wilmington Chapter. eWomenNetwork is North America’s largest resource for women in business. She is owner of a marketing consulting firm in West Chester, PA, offering marketing services for small & medium sized businesses. For more information, visit www.ewomennetwork.com/chapter/wilmington or contact Maria
at 610-405-0633,
MariaNovak001@yahoo.com.
December Luncheon
Doubletree Hotel, 4727 Concord Pike
(Rte. 202), Wilmington, DE
11:30 AM, Wednesday
December 9, 2009
Celebrating Our Journey!
A special year-end holiday celebration.
Presented By: Elaine Kempski
This event will also be a Holiday Shopping Event with tons of vendors and products to purchase for gift giving. Join us for this FUN-FILLED event
as we celebrate our unique journey as women. Make new connections and deepen existing ones as we laugh, share, and connect with one another. Reflect upon the journey you have made during
this year of tremendous change. In what life areas did you experience the most growth? What inner qualities did you connect with the most? And what significant wisdom have you gained?
It’s important for every woman to fully recognize and celebrate each phase of her amazing journey.
January Luncheon
Doubletree Hotel, 4727 Concord Pike
(Rte. 202), Wilmington, DE
11:30 AM, Wednesday
January 13, 2010
Organize My Life!
Presented By: Sue Frost
Sue Frost, Professional Organizer, believes that the path to success is paved with organizational techniques that anyone can incorporate into their life.
Family needs, work deadlines, and maintaining ties with friends all demand our time. Our society works at such a fast pace that becoming disorganized and overwhelmed should come as
no surprise. It’s simply the mark of a busy woman. Recognizing that this need was a common one, Sue turned her talent into a business. She strives to do more than help you attain organization.
Sue will teach you how to become an organized person.
We may not be able to control everything in life; however, through organization you can control more than
you’ve ever dreamed. The results are stress relief, efficiency, saving (time and money), confidence, and pride.
To register for either Luncheon contact:
MariaNovak@eWomenNetwork.com
Phone: 610-405-0633
www.ewomennetwork.com/chapter/wilmington
Wouldn’t it be nice if effective small business marketing and self promotion practices felt natural and authentic? If you truly care about your customers, self promotion deserves your attention.
Many negative connotations typically come to mind when thinking about self-promotion, all of which keep many people, especially women, from feeling comfortable and confident when talking about themselves. You’ve heard all the name-calling: conceited, show-off, braggart, arrogant, egotistical.
Women seem to have a stronger concern about being considered obnoxious or egotistical than men. We worry that someone will wonder “who does she think she is.” Women often talk about our responsibilities rather than our achievements. We’ll rehash our previous job descriptions instead of boasting about our accomplishments. Fortunately, the most successful women have gotten over that fear. They’re not afraid to tell everyone who’ll listen how great they are, and frankly we should applaud them.
Maybe you feel that it is inappropriate to promote yourself in any way, especially when you meet new people. Have you ever met someone who asked about what you do, and watched their look of confusion when you gave them a barely adequate answer, all because you didn’t want to seem pushy or conceited?
If you are good at what you do, then it is essential that others know about it. This will help increase your business – and it is not necessary to feel guilty or shy about promoting yourself.
Most people avoid self promotion out of fear. Know that the fear of being denied what you want is not the same as the fear of rejection. Being told “no” in response to a sales pitch does not signal the end of a relationship. It doesn’t have anything to do with accepting or rejecting you as a human being. It doesn’t even have anything to do with increasing or decreasing your perceived worthiness. All it means is “No. I do not want what you are offering.”
So what do you do if you are uncomfortable promoting yourself? Ask your internal monitor to nudge you when you move away from instead of toward selling or self-promotion. Don’t try to change anything yet, just notice. “Just noticing” will allow you to acknowledge your current attitudes toward selling and self promotion. As you become more aware of how avoiding self-promotion keeps you from authentic engagement with your best clients and customers, your reluctance will shift into eagerness to reach and support the people you serve.
The last and perhaps most important issue to realize is that you’ve earned the right to celebrate your accomplishments. Many times when something great happens to us we can’t believe it and we wind up questioning ourselves as to whether or not we deserve it.
Be proud of yourself and your accomplishments. You’ve earned it and you should share it with others.
Maria Novak is Managing Director of eWomen Network, Greater Wilmington Chapter. eWomenNetwork is North America’s largest resource for women in business. She is owner of a marketing consulting firm in West Chester, PA, offering marketing services for small & medium sized businesses. For more information, visit www.ewomennetwork.com/chapter/wilmington or contact Maria at 610-405-0633, MariaNovak001@yahoo.com.
December Luncheon
Doubletree Hotel, 4727 Concord Pike
(Rte. 202), Wilmington, DE
11:30 AM, Wednesday
December 9, 2009
Celebrating Our Journey!
A special year-end holiday celebration.
Presented By: Elaine Kempski
This event will also be a Holiday Shopping Event with tons of vendors and products to purchase for gift giving. Join us for this FUN-FILLED event as we celebrate our unique journey as women. Make new connections and deepen existing ones as we laugh, share, and connect with one another. Reflect upon the journey you have made during this year of tremendous change. In what life areas did you experience the most growth? What inner qualities did you connect with the most? And what significant wisdom have you gained?
It’s important for every woman to fully recognize and celebrate each phase of her amazing journey.
January Luncheon
Doubletree Hotel, 4727 Concord Pike
(Rte. 202), Wilmington, DE
11:30 AM, Wednesday
January 13, 2010
Organize My Life!
Presented By: Sue Frost
Sue Frost, Professional Organizer, believes that the path to success is paved with organizational techniques that anyone can incorporate into their life.
Family needs, work deadlines, and maintaining ties with friends all demand our time. Our society works at such a fast pace that becoming disorganized and overwhelmed should come as no surprise. It’s simply the mark of a busy woman. Recognizing that this need was a common one, Sue turned her talent into a business. She strives to do more than help you attain organization.
Sue will teach you how to become an organized person.
We may not be able to control everything in life; however, through organization you can control more than you’ve ever dreamed. The results are stress relief, efficiency, saving (time and money), confidence, and pride.
To register for either Luncheon contact:
MariaNovak@eWomenNetwork.com
Phone: 610-405-0633
www.ewomennetwork.com/chapter/wilmington
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