WHAT DO I MEAN BY BULLSHITTING?

It's important that I break down the word *bullshit* so you start to learn how to use it effectively. My use of this word does not imply that you should go into an interview or a situation and try to sell yourself to someone by lying about your strengths. Instead what you're going to do is pull out what you believe to be your core strengths and PUMP UP THEIR VOLUME! You're going to really push how freaking great you are at those particular things. That's when it becomes uncomfortable for most of us -- because pumping up the volume on something we do well means we've crossed that delicate line from humility to BRAGGING and BRAGGING is obnoxious, right? And if you're bragging, you're bordering on bullshitting because you can't possibly be really, really good at something, right? WRONG! Nine times out of ten, you're not giving yourself enough CREDIT! That's because you're a Reluctant Genius. You have it, you just don't sell it!

When you emphasize a personal strength, you’re making an IMPACT on the person you’re speaking to and that's what this is all about. IMPACT! IMPACT! IMPACT! Take the reluctant out of the genius.

I’m going to digress for a moment and relate this to television production to illustrate my point.

There is an important rule in producing reality TV shows that applies to these situations: Whenever I interview a cast member about what they experienced or are about to experience, I tell them that they must look at each situation (or story point) as being THE MOST exciting/upsetting/frustrating/nerve-wracking or THE WORST experience/situation/game/confrontation/discussion – meaning there is no middle of the road in TV. No average. Everything is really great or really dreadful.

Here’s an example from a reality show I produced for a major network. I’d love to say I made this up, but it’s based on a real show. Your job is to decide which response has greater IMPACT and is likely to make you want to watch the rest of the series?

A) “I wasn’t upset when my family voted me off the show and removed my name from my father’s $60 million will. We’ll all be fine tomorrow.”

B) “When my family voted me off the show and scratched my name off my father’s $60 million will, I was furious! I thought how can those bastards destroy my life! I’ll never speak to them again!”

Please tell me you picked B.

Ok. Now let’s look at this for the real world (and I don’t mean the MTV show). You go on an interview to be the Executive Assistant to the Vice-President. Here are some of the things you know about yourself:

1. You’re decent at keeping things somewhat organized.

2. You do pretty well following direction.

3. You tend to get along well with people around you.

Here’s how to PUMP UP THE VOLUME when you're SELLING yourself to someone:

1. “I really love to keep things organized and I’m obsessed with color-coding! My co-workers tease me because I have everything labeled, time-stamped and filed alphabetically, but my boss said she’s so grateful because because her last assistant was a mess!”

2. “Everywhere I go I take my little notepad just so I can write down everything that needs to be done and I’m ready whenever my boss throws out something she needs done.”

3. “Because I interact with all of the staff and everyone seems to respond well to me, I was put in charge of the Office Olympics. They really needed to have someone who could rally the troops and get everyone excited. They call me the "Office Cheerleader."

Cheesy, OK, but hopefully you get the idea. All of these things must be grounded in some degree of truth. You can't say you were called the "office cheerleader" if you are an introvert. You just need to pull out little compliments like this and build a great story around it.

Now, if you like color-coding, but haven't really made a great effort to do it at work, you'll do it NOW! If you keep a notepad in your bag and sometimes forget to take it out, you'll remember to use it NOW! It's all by degree. There MUST be a degree of truth in what you're saying because ultimately you're going to have to walk-the-walk or your ass'll be fired!

One of the big tricks you'll notice is that I'm encouraging you to use OTHER PEOPLE to say the really great stuff so you don't have to! Check it out: "...my boss said she's so grateful..." "They call me the office cheerleader." "My colleagues tease me [because I have everything so well-organized]." Get it?!

1. Think about three strengths you have that you can emphasize to make an IMPACT.

2. What has a co-worker, boss, client said about you?(preferably something positive ;-)

3. What stories can you weave around these strengths and quotes?

MORAL: All of this takes thought and work. Take the time and you can make an impact. Make an impact and you can get whatever it is you want.