I’ll be honest: I hate self-promotion. It sucks.
It feels unauthentic, braggadocious, and elitist. It makes me — and probably you — feel uncomfortable.
So, why do I do it? Because if you don’t, you’re screwed.
Let me explain.
The Credibility Trap: Why You Can’t Avoid Self-Promotion
You’ve probably heard Dale Carnegie’s famous advice:
“Talk to someone about themselves, and they’ll listen for hours.”
That’s my go-to strategy when I meet new people. And guess what? It works — people like you, they trust you.
But here’s the catch: while they may like you, they probably won’t hire you, recommend you, or read what you write.
Because if they don’t know what you can do, how can they trust your work?
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: Self-promotion isn’t about bragging. It’s about establishing credibility.
When you write a research paper in school, you can’t just spout opinions. You need credible sources to show you know what you’re talking about.
In the real world, you are the source. Your experience, ideas, and knowledge matter. But if you don’t share your work, speak your mind, or show your skills, you’ll never build credibility.
And if you don’t have credibility? Your opportunities are limited, no matter how hard you work.
Show Your Work: How I Learned to Promote Myself (The Right Way)
When I read Show Your Work by Austin Kleon, it changed my perspective.
If you hate self-promotion, this book is for you. Kleon explains that the goal isn’t to “sell yourself” — it’s to share your work so others can benefit from it.
I’ll admit, I was still hesitant. I worried about what people would think: “What if they laugh at me? What if I fail? What if my work is stupid?”
But then I reminded myself: In 200 years, I’ll be dead. So will everyone who judged me.
So why not just try?
Here’s what happened when I started sharing my work.
My Story
I worked as an analyst in corporate America. My days were filled with Excel reports, manual processes, and endless PowerPoint presentations.
It was mind-numbing. So, I thought:
“There’s got to be a better way to automate this.”
I started teaching myself Python, advanced Excel, and PowerPoint tricks in my free time — spending hours on YouTube tutorials, reading books, and failing repeatedly.
Once I figured out a better way, I realized: If I was struggling with this, other departments probably were too.
So, I decided to reach out:
“Hey, I noticed you spend hours on this report every week. I found a way to automate it. Want me to show you?”
Guess what? Everyone said yes.
Because time is the most valuable resource people have. If you can save someone time, they’ll always be interested.
What Happened Next
Here’s the interesting part:
- I wasn’t “promoting myself.” I was offering help.
- I wasn’t spamming people. I was sharing a solution to a problem they had.
Within months, word spread. I became known as “The Process Automation Guy” — the go-to person for saving time and streamlining workflows.
Results:
- I expanded my network.
- I became well-known by executives in the organization.
- My LinkedIn following 10x’d.
- I worked on projects with huge impact across the company.
All because I shared my skills and offered to help.
The 3 Steps to Self-Promote Without Being “Slimy”
If self-promotion makes you uncomfortable, here’s the key: don’t promote — help.
1. Find a Marketable Skill
What’s something you know or can learn that other people need?
- For me, it was process automation.
- For you, it could be music, marketing strategies, finance, programming, advanced analytics, or design.
Learn the skill, master it, and make it valuable to others.
2. Start Helping the Right People
Reach out to people who need your help. Don’t randomly message strangers — identify real problems you can solve and offer solutions.
Example:
“Hey, I noticed your [process/tool/report] could be automated, and I figured out how to do it. I’d love to show you if you’re interested.”
This doesn’t feel like self-promotion because it’s not — it’s service.
3. Share Your Work Publicly
Once you’ve helped others, start sharing your work:
- Write about your solutions on LinkedIn.
- Create templates, tools, or case studies that others can use.
- Publish videos or articles about what you’re learning and building.
The key is to provide value.
Why Most People Fail at Self-Promotion
The biggest reason people struggle with self-promotion is fear:
- What if no one needs my skill?
- What if I’m not good enough?
- What if the market is oversaturated?
Here’s the truth: You’ll never know unless you try.
Stop comparing yourself to others and start focusing inward. As the saying goes:
“Comparison is the thief of joy.”
Learn a skill, apply it immediately, and share the results. Even if you’re not perfect, you’re moving forward — and that’s what matters.
Take Action Today: A Simple Plan
If you want to start self-promoting the right way, here’s your roadmap:
- Find a Skill: Identify a marketable skill that’s in demand.
- Learn and Apply: Spend time mastering it and applying it to real problems.
- Share Your Work: Help others and share your solutions publicly.
Here’s what you shouldn’t do: Don’t spam people with “Look at me!” messages. Don’t promote things that don’t add value. Instead, be helpful, be consistent, and be real.
Final Thoughts: Self-Promotion Is About Helping People
When I started sharing my work, I didn’t become famous. I didn’t “go viral.” But I created real opportunities for myself, grew my network, and added value to others.
And here’s the secret: When you help people save time, solve problems, or grow their business, they’ll want to work with you.
So, take that first step today. Learn a skill. Apply it. Share it.
You’ll be surprised how much you grow when you stop worrying about self-promotion — and start focusing on how you can help others.
If you found this helpful, check out more of my work on Medium or follow me on LinkedIn.
Let’s connect, grow, and help each other succeed.
