There are many different kinds of people in this world, and sad to say, most people are pathetically weak. My critics tell me that I spend too much time focusing on weakness rather than strength. They are correct. I focus on weakness because those who are strong, already know it and are in control of their lives (to the degree that any of us can have control).
I am very critical of people who take little to no pride in what they do and/or who they are. You’ve all heard the saying, “Self praise stinks.” I could NOT disagree more. I worked very hard to get where I am. I credit no one but myself for what I have accomplished…on my own. I’m not talking about my business accomplishments or any family-related accomplishments, rather – just my personal accomplishments. I worked very hard, and spent a great deal of time – to get where I am. How about you? Did you invest time and money to get where you are?
I bet you did.
That being said, does it make any sense to sit around and WAIT for someone else to sing your praises? Hell no! There’s no question that an endorsement from someone other than yourself (about you and/or your work) is certainly preferred, but should you wait for that to happen or should YOU toot your own horn?
I CAN’T WAIT for you, or anyone else to get off your ass and tell people about me, who I am, what I do, etc. Can you wait? I hope not. If you do good work, then shouldn’t people know?
ABSOLUTELY!!!
Most people are meek and weak. They have been conditioned to be pathetic. They wait…and wait…and wait for people to discover them, all the while ignoring the fact that THE CLOCK IS TICKING. Time is running out. People need to know…NOW.
In every step of my life, I let people know that I am the best at what I do. I tell them…right to their face. Are my statements truthful? YES. In my opinion, and based on my current knowledge, I am the best that there is…at what I do. I am not a great cook. I don’t know jack about sports. I think I’m a good dad, but I won’t really know until my daughters are older and render the final verdict (lol).
What I do know to be true is that, what I am great at, I am GREAT at. In fact, I am the BEST. I tell people early on in the game, “Here is where I am the BEST, and here is where I am not the best. “ I don’t mind not being the best at most things so long as I am the best at what I care about.
While my statements are all truthful, the fact is that this IS a form of marketing. I like to market myself to my target audience, and I have no problem telling my target audience where I RULE!
I was recently involved in a pitch to a new client for my company’s services. I was seated next to a competitor – who like me, was also seeking this particular client’s business. The competitor started out by stating, “Marc is a good man with some good ideas, but we’ve bet in this game for 30 years, and this is what we think is best for your business, blah, blah, blah…” Here’s what I said when it was my turn, “Devon’s a nice person and a fine dresser, but his recommendation to do A, B, and C, makes absolutely no sense for your business. It will do this, this, AND this! My recommendation includes first doing, X, then doing Y, and then doing Z. If you do A, B, and C, you are going to screw yourself out of existence. Devon has been at this for tens years long than I, but that doesn’t mean jack. If time always meant that you were getting better quality, then a carton of milk sitting in a fridge for ten years would be as valuable as 2001 bottle of Chateau Lafite. When it comes to ____, I am the best, and even Devon knows it. Sooo…”
If you’re a weak person, your gut reaction to the previous sentence will be, “Marc, you can say that because you are one of these super-confident guys who is a smooooooth talker OR you’re probably covering up for your inadequacies.” If you were thinking that, I can tell you right now that you need a load of help. If you’re not a loser yet, you are certainly on your way. Congratulations. Yes, I know – it hurts to hear that. But hey – isn’t better to know this now and to fix it, than to live with and discover this flaw later on down the road?
You are VERY welcome.
Before you get even more upset with me than you already are, consider the following exchange:
Dr. Marc: “Is that the iPad 2?”
Client: “Yes it is!”
Dr. Marc: “How do you like it?”
Client: “Are you kidding…this thing is AWESOME!”
Dr. Marc: “You’re a dentist, correct?”
Client: “Yep.”
Dr. Marc: “How would you rate yourself?”
Client: “Ehh…not bad. Are you looking for a dentist?”
This is what gets me: This guy is about to cream over an electronic device which he rates as being “AWESOME,” and yet gives himself a “Ehh…not bad.”
Yes – I know, “But Dr. Marc, the bible says…’The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground’ and ‘Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.’ You is E-VIL Dr. Marc and you is THE DARK LORD! Powaaahhh….Powaahhh! I cast you out! I cast you out! I cast you out!”
First of all, the bible has as much meaning to ME as – oh, pixie dust and the story of Winnie the Pooh. I’m not going to get into a religion discussion with ANYONE, but IF there is a higher power, it doesn’t want a world of meek and weak. That kind of garbage is written to keep the meek and weak stupid and happy. And as far as me being THE DARK LORD, well – you are absolutely correct.
If you toot your own horn, you are labeled as being “arrogant.” I happily accept that label. I had a chance to meet one of the best known business consultants currently working. He spoke at a conference and I had a chance to chat with him after he completed his talk. A question came up relating to today’s blog topic. He indicated that he was never one to put himself out there. I started laughing. He asked me what was so funny.
I pulled out his marketing materials – all of which featured his face plastered to a sell sheet, to a bookmark, and to a ton of additional promotional material. I asked him, “What do you call all of this?” He paused, laughed, and said, “I owe you a Scotch.” FYI: I don’t drink Scotch. Afterward, we chatted and he confessed that YOU DO – in fact, have to push yourself into the limelight. His point: When other people are talking about you more than YOU can talk about yourself, THEN – and only then do you start to quiet down. His point is valid, but even then – I still wouldn’t shut up (lol).
Think about this post.
Have A GREAT Day!
…Dr. Marc Swerdlick