Celebrate victory

 Selling yourself is hard. Whether it’s a job interview, public speaking or sparking up a conversation with a stranger. Some people could talk for hours on end but as soon as it comes to something about themselves, they would rather avoid the topic entirely. They hide from introspection and run from reflection. They are unable to articulate their goals, ambitions or drive. They speak superficially to friends and family about current affairs and fleeting moments. They rarely speak about their emotions. Speaking deeply about yourself will lead to improved relationships, connections and build empathy.

You can do it!

One thing I’ve implemented lately in conversation (especially with strangers) is asking if they have any small or large personal victories that they would like to share. What I find is that people who are often closed off and unable to articulate any personal selling points find themselves speaking freely about something that they find important. I have found that people are not good at congratulating themselves. They wait until other people notice their achievements. Sadly, sometimes that never happens. 

Sharing is caring

I have found that this simple question garners an enthusiastic and sincere response. It makes the other person feel warranted. It makes them feel like their actions have had purpose. The more we get into the habit of sharing our personal motives and outcomes, the more we can feel comfortable sharing our failures. If we can freely share our positive outcomes, we will feel more comfortable sharing any negative ones. We can then overcome them with the help of friends, family and strangers. We can look to the future together. So, do you have any personal victories you’d like to share?