Blow Your
Own Horn
Anyone can win attention via an action or by saying something weird or considerably removed from the norm.
Younger generations know this best. They have always had the Internet, social media, and a grand collection of tools and technology to use to get notice for themselves or their favorite things. Their youth, however, often keeps them from understanding the difference between winning attention and gaining favor. Older generations, too, can misunderstand the difference.
Notice comes much faster than favor. Winning favor means also answering the questions of the curious observer who is trying to determine if or where the unusual fits in his own scheme of work and daily living.
Last April, I found a book with the catchy title, Blow Your Own Horn: How to get noticed--and get ahead by Jeffrey P. Davidson (AMACOM Books 1987 and Berkley 1991). The author did a credible job of presenting solid information about accelerating one’s career. Experienced marketing or public relations professionals will find nothing new in the book. But for the uninitiated, general population the paperback is filled with helpful information to be used when the time comes to light a fire under one’s career. Blow Your Own Horn shows the way to inviting associates, colleagues and media to join in.
Warning, if you do find a copy, keep in mind the publication dates and adjust your thinking because of the age of the material. Still, the basis for the strategy behind what Davidson suggests is solid, even today. The introduction makes clear that “the most effective self-marketing is done with class and honesty and is based on a genuine respect and concern for the needs of others. . . . The secret is to develop the skills that will make you a valuable professional and then learn to promote those skills in a way that will earn you the respect and success you deserve.”
"Let no feeling of discouragement prey upon you,
and in the end you are sure to succeed."
Abraham Lincoln
My interest in the book comes from always searching for ways everyone can learn to better present and respond to planned and surprise encounters with the media. Davidson does a good job of laying out a sound plan from a corporate or business owner viewpoint.
If you work in law, medicine, media, the arts, entertainment, fashion or sports you need a specialized focus on how, when and where you blow your horn. There will be more attention to specialty career visibility in future posts. What are the win attention versus earn favor challenges facing you today? Tell me about them, and how you resolved the more interesting problems.
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(c)2012 Adele Hodge