| When some people think about promoting | | | | By chance, are you an animal lover? |
| themselves they envision wearing a sandwich board | | | | I've never purchased a "new" dog, one that is sold in |
| that screams: "I'm desperate!" | | | | a pet shop. I've always been attracted to the |
| There's a good reason. | | | | discards, to the distressed hand-me-downs, the |
| Most of us wait to actively tout ourselves until the | | | | castoffs, those that have been orphaned, needing a |
| 11th and a half hour, when the chips are down or | | | | new home. |
| dissipated, and we're in crisis-mode. | | | | One day, I went to a dusty horse ranch that was |
| We've lost our jobs, our savings are spent, and most | | | | staging pet adoptions. I looked here and there at |
| of the people calling us are impatient creditors and | | | | various dogs, some of which seemed very |
| our mailboxes are stuffed with threatening letters. | | | | depressed with watery, sad eyes and drooping |
| We wait until our bodies are rebelling with mysterious | | | | shoulders. |
| symptoms, phantom toothaches, queasy stomachs, | | | | I empathized, but they didn't win my heart. |
| and restless and sleepless nights. | | | | Across from the stables, half a football field away, |
| We wait until self-pity envelops us in a fog, and the | | | | one dog was ceaselessly jerking forward and back, |
| mere idea of aggressively hawking our abilities and | | | | restrained by a rope. It seemed to be staring right at |
| availability seems daunting, leading to instant fatigue. | | | | me, so I approached. |
| We'd rather do anything than draft a new resume, | | | | As I got closer, I felt it was saying, "Come on, |
| scan job listings, or pick up the phone to call our | | | | dummy, yes YOU; get over here!" |
| contacts about opportunities or to make income or | | | | The barking stopped as I reached the ten-yard line. |
| business sustaining sales. | | | | Carefully I walked up to it, and stood there. As I |
| We wait until we're in a funk, with zero propellant in | | | | began petting, she leaned against my leg, as if to |
| our tanks. | | | | say, "Take me, I'm yours!" |
| Is it is any wonder that finding a new job seems to | | | | Which is exactly what I did, and we had a beautiful |
| take forever, and when we have secured one we | | | | friendship until she went on to her final reward. |
| feel drained, like we need an extended vacation? | | | | We wouldn't have come together had she not been |
| Right now, without further delay or hesitation, we | | | | a great self-promoter. Of the scores of animals |
| need to write a new script for our lives, one where | | | | seeking homes that day, she made herself |
| we are the featured player, the star, and applause | | | | conspicuous to me. |
| are forthcoming. | | | | Cal Worthington was one of the most celebrated car |
| Instead of merging into the scenery or becoming | | | | dealers in Southern California. He'd wrestle with bears, |
| mere spear carriers, serving as window dressing for | | | | tigers, snakes and you name it, at the beginning of |
| our companies and other up and coming folks, we | | | | his ads, before featuring special car bargains. |
| must stage our own spectaculars, emerging from | | | | One day, listening to the radio, I heard an interview |
| shadows into limelight, even if it is illumined at first | | | | with him. Surprisingly, he was super low key, almost |
| with only the power of faith and one flickering candle. | | | | shy, you might say. When asked why he used "wild" |
| If you have been used to being a small voice in a | | | | animals in his ads, he slowly said: |
| large chorus, stepping to the front and center as a | | | | "If you want to sell something, first you have to get |
| soloist can seem daunting. Yet this is exactly what is | | | | someone's attention." |
| called for if we want to create exceptional careers | | | | That is also the supremely important, first step in |
| and rewarding personal lives. | | | | selling ourselves. |