His name is Joe. He is a screenwriter. He goes to parties in Malibu. He flies to London. He will be famous. He wears it well.
He is not proud. He is not humble. He is who he is.
Last night at a techy-type social/networking event, I wondered who these people really were.
What if you could be anyone you wanted to be?
I thought about “social camouflage” – a term I picked up from watching the movie “Catch Me If You Can.” Directed by Steven Spielberg, this is a true story about a high school student who successfully poses as an airline pilot, a doctor and a lawyer. Set in the 60s, it’s nearly impossible for anyone to pull off what Frank Abagnale did back then today. The movie’s tagline: The True Story of a Real Fake.
How did Frank get to be so convincing? He dressed the part, studied, interviewed experts, associated with people in the professions he wanted to be in and watched TV shows about being a doctor.
While I’m not suggesting posing an imposter, I wonder how many of us lay a real claim to who we are – or who we could be. Many times, our clients will ask to dial down their presence. Although what we say about them is authentic, their real persona is too big for them. “Oh, we can’t say that. What will people think?”
What if we drop-kicked our humility and just accepted that we are who we are? Can you see yourself in any of these?
Social Branding Vignettes . . .
We exchanged cards. Hers said: A Top Chicago Writer
I said: Wow! How did you get to be a top Chicago writer?
She said: I know I am. What do you do?
I said: I write, too.
She said: Then, you’re probably a top Chicago writer, too.
I said: Well, maybe . . . once I interviewed with the Chicago Tribune for a contract position and they said they were only interviewing the top writers in Chicago. And I’ve won a few contests.
She said: Put that on your card – a top Chicago writer. Because your are!
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We exchanged cards.
She said: So, you’re a blogger?
I said: Yes, I write about social media, marketing and PR. I have over 400 articles and my blog is in the top 100,000 out of 12 million blogs.
She said: You’re a super blogger! There’s a guy here looking for someone to help him with his blog – let me find him for you.
The phone rang . . .
He said: Is this the super blogger?
I said: Well, not really, uh . . . let me clarify that for you.
He said: Come on, you know you’re good. I want you to help me get my blog started.
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A comment appeared in the comment box
It read: You are the queen of networking!
I said: Hmmm . . .
A friend called
She said: You are the queen of networking!
I said: Hmmm . . .
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Your Turn
Who are you that you are not now? How could you be more like Joe?
English
14 thoughts on “Drop-Kick Humility – Be Who You Are PR”
Hi Barbara! I think there’s a problem with this post, as it ends in the middle of a sentence. The first paragraphs really got me intrigued, so I hope to also see the rest. Here’s where it ends for me:
“I thought about “social camouflage” – a term I picked up from watching the movie “Catch Me If You Can.” Directed by Steven Spielberg, this is a true story about a”
Alina Popescu’s last blog post..Social Media Love Comes With Great Content. Really?
Hi Barbara! I think there’s a problem with this post, as it ends in the middle of a sentence. The first paragraphs really got me intrigued, so I hope to also see the rest. Here’s where it ends for me:
“I thought about “social camouflage” – a term I picked up from watching the movie “Catch Me If You Can.” Directed by Steven Spielberg, this is a true story about a”
Alina Popescu’s last blog post..Social Media Love Comes With Great Content. Really?
Hi Alana! Thanks for catching this. Looking forward to hearing what you think about the post now.
Hi Alana! Thanks for catching this. Looking forward to hearing what you think about the post now.
Hi Barbara! Great post, as always 🙂 True, you’re all that, a super blogger, networking queen and a really, really cool person 🙂
What I aim to say beyond modesty and exaggerations is that I am great at PR, a damn good photographer and an awesome travel writer. Oh, and add successful business owner in a couple of years to that 😛
Alina Popescu’s last blog post..Monday Reading Roundup Take #7
Hi Barbara! Great post, as always 🙂 True, you’re all that, a super blogger, networking queen and a really, really cool person 🙂
What I aim to say beyond modesty and exaggerations is that I am great at PR, a damn good photographer and an awesome travel writer. Oh, and add successful business owner in a couple of years to that 😛
Alina Popescu’s last blog post..Monday Reading Roundup Take #7
Alina-thanks for coming back for round two! You are a fun one to watch – your combination of talent, passion and ambition will take you far.
Alina-thanks for coming back for round two! You are a fun one to watch – your combination of talent, passion and ambition will take you far.
And now I am back for round three 🙂 Thanks for saying such great things about me! Now I have to learn to believe in such an image of myself everyday. I guess the Kung Fu Panda will help out with this one 🙂 Just saw it last night.
Alina Popescu’s last blog post..Keep Your Audience In Mind Every Step of the Way
And now I am back for round three 🙂 Thanks for saying such great things about me! Now I have to learn to believe in such an image of myself everyday. I guess the Kung Fu Panda will help out with this one 🙂 Just saw it last night.
Alina Popescu’s last blog post..Keep Your Audience In Mind Every Step of the Way
And now I am back for round three 🙂 Thanks for saying such great things about me! Now I have to learn to believe in such an image of myself everyday. I guess the Kung Fu Panda will help out with this one 🙂 Just saw it last night.
Alina Popescu’s last blog post..Keep Your Audience In Mind Every Step of the Way