“I struggle with promoting myself. How do you navigate that in a tasteful way that doesn’t make it seem like it’s all about me? I just want to get the message out.”
It’s a common concern for a lot of people (authors, speakers, pastors, and thought leaders especially).
No matter who you are, if you have something to say or sell, there will likely come a time when you are faced with the tension of self-promotion. Most of us despise it but often it’s for the wrong reasons.
In reality what it boils down to is this…
You likely feel as if you have been called to share a message but you’re fearful of being the one to actually share it. You don’t want all that attention on YOU. Sure, you may be genuinely concerned about the message getting out and you not getting in the way BUT if you’re really, I mean really honest with yourself… I’d be willing to bet that a smidge of fear is really the driving issue.
A message can’t get shared unless there is a messenger willing to share it. – Tweet That
See the irony there?
Consider this…
You have been gifted with certain talents and abilities for a reason. You are unique and God has put you here on this Earth for a purpose (such a time as this). If you feel called to share a message or help solve a problem then you should embrace it. You can be used to accomplish great things but you can’t let the fear of self-promotion be an excuse that holds you back.
To overcome it, first you need to start with a question.
Ask yourself if you truly believe in what you have to say or sell. If you do, then ask yourself if you believe that it will be of benefit to others in some way. If the answer is yes then you have an obligation to yourself and to others to share it. This becomes your WHY… why you do what you do.
It’s only self-promotion if you are focused on promoting yourself. – Tweet That
If your focus is on others… serving, giving, helping, etc. then no matter what you do… it’s ultimately not about you anyways and people will recognize that. When you keep your WHY a priority then nothing you do is self-promotion (unless you start focusing on yourself). You’re simply a tool that God is using to accomplish something through.
And don’t freak out about creating a website around your name or having a Facebook page that people LIKE or a Twitter account that people follow. That’s just how people are wired.
We follow the messenger because the messenger helps us connect to the message.
Your turn…
What about you? Do you struggle with self-promotion? How do you handle it?
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