the secret to self promotion: radiance and the facts, jack

 
 

Dear Danielle,

"Can I ask a question? I love working for myself and don't want it any other way, but it seems that when you work for yourself you have to be a salesperson. I'm not a huge fan of sales people and hate feeling like I'm pushing something on someone. If you have any opinions on that I'd love to hear them!"
- Dani Griffin (via Facebook)

Dear Dani and the leagues of people who hate self promotion:

I never really understood people who are loathe to sell themselves or the stuff they make. But then again, my whole twenties (okay, and thirties) was solar-powered by the rays of my seduction. From boys to gigs to new age notions, I had a deal for you! "I got what you want and you don't even know you want it. And I make house calls."

Now? Meh. I've got what I've got, which is a lot. If that warms your cockles, let's talk. If not, my engine is running, and I trust that your tribe is waiting for you elsewhere. Meep meep.

Do I sell my self? Damn straight I do. Everyday, all day. I'm doing it right now. I'll do it on Twitter, CBC TV, Facebook, this week's speaking gig for the Travel & Media Association of Canada, and when the waiter asks me what I do for a living. But I'm no longer TRYING TO CONVINCE YOU TO BELIEVE AND BUY. Rather, (and this has been one of my most gnarly, redeeming spiritual journeys) I radiate and state the facts. That's it. And it's a helluva lot more efficient than sales.

So, why do you hate self-promotion?

1. Because...it makes you feel like you're pushing something on someone?
Passion is a force - and an essential one at that. If you're not passionate about your service or your product, you shouldn't be selling it in the first place. If you're not passionate you have to fake it, and that'll just make you feel like a sleazeball.

But let's assume you are fully and truly turned on, and you're offering the world something that you wholeheartedly believe in. Repeat: you're anchored with integrity to purpose and meaning. That being the case, and the premise for everything I'm about to say after this, let's proceed:

Don't burn energy trying to assume how people will perceive you. What some people will read as enthusiastic stamina, others will interpret as pushy intruder. It's your job to show up as you, passion and all, and let the right customers make up their mind about you.

2. Because...you're shy?
You have three choices here: a) Get over it. Nothing like motivation to put food on the table or achieve your life dreams to cure shyness. It happens all the time. b) Let someone else do the selling for you - a writer, a rep, an agent, a virtual assistant-type. c) Pray that your good intentions and the high quality or originality of your offering will attract customers and prosperity. This tact, on it's own, never ever works.

3. Because it's not a "strength" of yours?
see #2.

4. Because you're afraid that people will think less of you? That you'll be less of an artist, social steward or true professional if you're hawking your wares or blowing your own horn.

Then I have bad news for you: everything you do is promotion, so you may as well do it with aplomb. The good news? Everything you do is promotion You are always radiating. From the personalized note that you tuck into your product shipment, to what you say at a party when someone asks you what you do, to how you pitch the art gallery or the corporation to get the big account -- to the message you leave on a Facebook page.

HAPPY SELF PROMOTION =
RADIATE your passion + STATE THE FACTS of what that passion generates - the results it brings for you and your customers.

I'll go first: I'm really passionate about the practical applications of love and consciousness in life and entrepreneurship. I write and speak about it in every way possible. I ran a think tank without any formal education, I wrote a book that got the attention of Oprah producers, and now, in my current incarnation, I'm booked four to six weeks in advance with clients - many of them say they got enough love 'n strategy in one hour to blow their circuits. I'm writing my next two books now, and will launch them online this year.

That's the passion, backed by the facts. Sometimes, at the start of your journey, all you may have in your inventory to "sell" is passion. And sometimes, that's enough to open doors.

If you're loving what you do and believing that it's going to make a positive difference in people's lives - whether it's your wedding photography, your coaching methodology, or your zero point energy invention, then, you my friend, are ahead of the game. You're light years down the path from the sorry sods who are grinning and bearing it in soul-sucking j-o-b-s.

So please, don't devalue your currency. I'm so emphatic about this, I'm willing to get all Hallmark on you: a gift isn't a gift until you give it away. Put a bow on it.

With much Love,
Danielle
xo

P.S.

Tune in Tuesday for Part 2: A Meditation for Self Promotion

join the convoposted 11 Jan 10 in: White Hot, business + wealth articles   ·   tags: , ,   ·   View Comments

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  • Piya
    Thanks for the lovely post
  • Wow, thank you for this post, Very Inspirational
  • Wow. Just, wow. Thank you for blowing your mind.

    Now I'm going to go and do some radiating.
  • Yeah, yeah, cool. Coming in from Kelly Diels.

    Anyone whining about being stuck in corporate and who won't learn to sell deseves what they get. That simple. And I'm not even that good at selling.

    If we are all good at selling our stuff, huge corporations would have a lot less leverage on us.
  • A thoughtful, well-felt, emotive and very fun to read piece on the great "rags to riches" myth, the "if what I offer is really good, I won't have to break the politeness rules that unconsciously guide my belief about what I do" conflict that lives in so many people who have a desire to be independent creatives and business people. I plan on sending this article to as many people as possible! in the Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell, he states that making the decision to not conform to society is part of the hero's journey. That breakaway is the realization that the rules of society are no longer appropriate and we have to find our own way. But wouldn't it make sense that there's a story behind this belief that it's not OK to rock the boat and promote? If you're typing from a MAC, remember Steve Jobs walked into COKE and said to their marketing CEO: "Do you want to make bubble water the rest of your life, or do you want to change the world?" Not very polite, eh? Pushy, I'd say. Anyone mad he did that? Not me. The mistake made is we forget that sales has a story that we sell to ourselves. Why can't the salesdemon become the shaman? I guarantee he's a trickster to most, waiting to teach a lesson. Consider re-marketing marketing to yourself. Re-market "hype" "fluff" and trade it for your story. Your story is that you offer something important others. The other half of your job is the honing of persuasion charisma that can open minds. You're really a mind opener. You're selling them on the deeper potential of their lives. That's not hype. That's not fluff.
  • salesdemon to shaman? now that's a conversion I can dig.
  • OOOO Danielle, Your posts are always so timely!!! I love how your voice has sent a little bug in my ear from the collective consciousness through your genius vessel. I just learned this lessen times 100. I paid for a booth to sell my gorgeous jewelry for 8 days straight right before Christmas. I showed up burnt out from other engagements with low inventory. Guess what? No sales for 3 days. Ouch. So I sold my booth for two days, sat in my pajamas in the studio, went to yoga, and "re harnessed my chi" as my dear friend put it. Then I showed up happy and hot in my new Christmas boots with a ton of inventory to sell. Guess what? Best 3 days EVER!!! My commitment this year to myself is to cultivate happy and hot when I show up in the world, and the permission to stay home in my pajamas when I'm not. Whew. Thank you for your genius.
  • As usual, Danielle, you are SMOKIN'. Love-love-love this post. :)

    Tho I'm still in entrepreneur status and still not earning what I want/need to earn, I find myself exactly where you stated here:

    "Now? Meh. I've got what I've got, which is a lot. If that warms your cockles, let's talk. If not, my engine is running, and I trust that your tribe is waiting for you elsewhere. Meep meep.

    Do I sell my self? Damn straight I do. Everyday, all day. I'm doing it right now. I'll do it on Twitter, CBC TV, Facebook, this week's speaking gig for the Travel & Media Association of Canada, and when the waiter asks me what I do for a living. But I'm no longer TRYING TO CONVINCE YOU TO BELIEVE AND BUY. Rather, (and this has been one of my most gnarly, redeeming spiritual journeys) I radiate and state the facts. That's it. And it's a helluva lot more efficient than sales."

    Thank you for putting it into words that I could smile, be proud of and not apologize.

    I heart you!
    Mitzi (who has a whole new focus & look thanks to our firestarter session)
  • Here, here, Danielle! If you focus on PERFORMANCE, the OUTCOME will manifest at the perfect time. The universe is waiting to match those high vibrations of passion and truth!
  • Fantastic!! I am doing the happy hamster dance! I have resent this to several people I know who are in that soul sucking job! Can't wait for part 2! Thanks Danielle!
  • "radiate and state the facts" - that is fantastic. It should be rapped in a chilli peppers song :-)
  • should it EVAH! Anthony...doing me...so to speak. I could die happy.
  • Laughed over this: "Because...you're shy?... Get over it."
    I frequently set my sights too low -- not enough networking, not enough reach from lack of reaching. Thanks for the pep talk.
  • my favorite little (actually, they're very big) truth kernels in this post =
    "don't waste energy assuming what other people are thinking about you"
    and
    "everything you do is promotion."

    thank you for the motivation to own my truth this year.
  • Rocking Post Danielle! Talk about a firestarter!

    I go back and forth feeling the way Dani does and feeling like if I'm on my life's path then it doesn't feel so pushy. I'm still practicing though!

    I'm the opposite of Sean. I have an easier time promoting myself online than in person.
  • This is soooooo AWESOME!!!!! Thank you thank you thank you!
  • It's funny, I don't mind self promotion offline at all. It feels natural, totally part of the conversation. Online, though, I just feel like one of a million other douchebags.

    I'm getting better, though!
  • Shazam, Danielle. Can't wait for Part Deux.

    Me? I love playing with words like promotion: it helps me unpack the baggage, lighten my load and kick up my heals, so here goes...

    Pro-motion: positive motion for the good of all concerned.

    Add some steamy passion and choo choo!
  • I'm playing with the notion that in any moment we're either creating (true self) or reacting (fear). When creating leads to promoting, then there's more creating (and a heap o' resonance throughout). Same goes for reacting - but dissonance instead of resonance throughout. Thoughts?
  • Amy-that's spot on. Remembering to operate from a place of abundance, creating from our true selves. Anytime I do something that feels icky or inauthentic, I'm usually working from scarcity + what other people are thinking about my work.
  • Thanks for the kick in the butt! You've inspired me to write a little something about myself, although I don't know what I'm going to do with it yet:

    These days I find I get really excited about capturing minimalist photographs of the world we live in. It brings a feeling of calm to my day and I hope it does yours. My knowledge of my craft has had me teaching advanced photography at the college level, my simple imagery has gotten me labeled as one of Photo Life magazine's 2009 Emerging Photographers, and my optimistic outlook has grabbed the attention of Design*Sponge. I'm amid two series of minimalist photographs: one of seascapes that is currently on hold until the spring thaw (hey, I live in Canada, so it'll be a few months), and one that I'm just beginning of snowy isolation. Both will be released online on an ongoing basis over the next year.
  • Inspiring post and, as they say, the proof is in the pudding. Jennifer, you're little something about yourself led me to take a swing over to your site. Lovely, calming, evocative photographs.

    Thanks Jennifer and thank you Danielle. I'm off to work on my own little something now.
  • Mahala - Thanks for your kind words! I'd love to read your little something!
  • Pretty awesome, Danielle. Thanks for the self-promotion and oh --

    The self is always coming through. That's the big message. If you believe deep down your product is the best, well, you're going to show it anyway so you might as well just do it with the radiance of an atomic bomb (or sun; choose your metaphor). It's a shame that people don't really show their gifts for a fear of offending.
  • I get both points here. I'm in PR for God's sake and I'm still JUST starting to feel comfortable self-promoting. Starting my blog and getting positive feedback on it was the push I needed to be able to start really getting it out there and telling people I'm a writer while looking them in the eyes rather than at the floor. I suggest to anyone if they're shy about self promoting to focus on their strengths and their "brand," and to incorporate those into every interaction they have.
  • I concur that passion, loving what you do and making a difference is essential to a deeply meaningful and fulfilling existence. Any tips on how to live from that place on a consistent basis?
  • ginormous question. I'll get back to you on that one....
  • thank you for this. at a time when I passionately want to make a living with my art/crafts, this was just what I needed.
  • well that was enough kablam in 3 and a half minutes for most people to take away and chew on for a week at least. Super post, not that that's unexpected.

    Well luckily I'm very much in the process of doing everything here already, so I think I'll just go and do it even better. Thanks for the energy!
  • I will be spreading this around like FIRE. Yes, yes, and yes. "Everything you do is promotion" and if you do it with true generosity and a feeling of expansion (and let happy clients spread love about you), it will all be good. Post rocks, Danielle!
  • Absolutely brilliant!!!

    'I have often wished I had time to cultivate modesty... but I am too busy thinking about myself.' Edith Sitwell
  • go Edith!
  • I needed this.

    I'm in the midst of trying to get violetminded to a place where I feel comfortable with telling people what I do. "Oh, do you need a website? Here's my card! Let's talk!" Things like that.

    I'm pasting your words onto a sticky note on my wall.
  • I love this. I was in Dani's position - feeling that selling was for salespeople, merchants, aggressive personalities. Not for professionals, artists, writers, or dreamers. In fact, we all sell something (or should). If you believe passionately about your product, your idea, your art, your writing or yourself (!), you sell it so other people can *benefit* or learn or improve from the same glorious value that you derive from it. You are doing others a favor by selling your treasure. Think of it as an educational process.
  • This is something that's going to be very valuable for me to learn and incorporate... thanks for making me realize its importance!
  • And *that*, my dear Danielle, is why you rock the Universe. Thanks for promoting yourself. I never would have found you any other way, and I'd be lost without your guidance.
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