Tags
business, Calgary, community, connecting, Diana Schwenk, ethics, generosity, Hump Day Chronicles, integrity, marketing, mission, passion, Purpose, Self-Promotion, Selling yourself, The Other Bottom Line, vision
As most of you know, I’ve hung out my own shingle, so to speak, with the intention of offering counsel to small non-profit organizations who may, or may not have staff who look after fund development and communications.
Now I find myself in a place where I need to develop some kind of brochure that I can use to market my little company. It’s easy to talk about the services and packages I offer. But to be honest, when it comes to selling myself, I have written and scrapped countless attempts! It all sounds like blah blah blah with a touch of I’m-so-special-and-here-are-my-outstanding-credentials-aren’t-you-impressed-with-me-ness. Yuck! I choke on the words. My inner Bull Shit meter registers off the scale! It doesn’t feel like me.
I know who I am. I know what I believe. I know who my target audience is. I understand ethical fundraising. I know the rights of donors. I know that engaging the community in dialogue instead of monologue is important and more effective. I know stories connect us. I know what works. I know what doesn’t work. I’ve been doing this in one way or another for 20+ years. I know my stuff – bottom line!
As luck would have it, someone recently gave me a copy of The Generosity Network – new transformational tools for successful fund-raising. Inspired by its approach to story-telling (which resonates so well with me), I think I’ve found a way to impart who I am and what I do by painting a picture with words in a way that feels sincere.
We’ll see how it goes. I’ve written a first draft and given some thought to how it will look. I’ll come back to it in a few days.
~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~
How do you sell yourself?
talktodiana 
This whole paragraph sold me, Diana -> ” I know who I am…I know my stuff – bottom line!”
I think that would grab people where you want them, it’s not selling your truth it’s simply speaking it with conviction!
I liked it a lot, just saying! 😀
~Andrea ❤
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Thanks Andrea! I’m still going back and forth on wording… 🙂
Diana xo
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Strangely enough, or not so strangely this:
” I have written and scrapped countless attempts! It all sounds like blah blah blah with a touch of I’m-so-special-and-here-are-my-outstanding-credentials-aren’t-you-impressed-with-me-ness. Yuck! I choke on the words. My inner Bull Shit meter registers off the scale! It doesn’t feel like me.
I know who I am. I know what I believe. I know who my target audience is. I understand ethical fundraising. I know the rights of donors. I know that engaging the community in dialogue instead of monologue is important and more effective. I know stories connect us. I know what works. I know what doesn’t work. I’ve been doing this in one way or another for 20+ years. I know my stuff – bottom line!”
sells you as is. It sounds honest, un-corporate, down to earth and heart felt. Maybe just something along those lines.
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I like it! Maybe not the exact words, but I like it! It would stand out, wouldn’t it? Thanks, I have some more thinking to do.
Diana xo
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Go you! That is awesome you work so hard in ethical fundraising 🙂
I have a hard time “selling myself”. I try really hard to just be authentic and kind (as I am in person). I figure like-minded people will find me along the way, or I’ll find them!
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Very wise Caitlin! Thanks for your encouraging support.
Diana xo
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I never liked selling, but since I had to do it I found the best way was to be sincere, direct, and have a practiced few paragraphs. Once I got clients they seldom left because I fulfilled, but I never could compete well with the dazzlers. Good luck with it.
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Thank you. I love that you retained your clients – good for you!
Diana xo
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I may not be in business but I do know that it is easier to sell someone else then it is to sell oneself I suck at selling myself
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I wonder if it is harder for women to sell themselves as than it is for men??
Diana xo
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Dear Diana
We are so proud of you and we wish you all the best for reaching your goal. Knowing you, your dream will become reality and it will take off like a rocket. We are so proud of you.
Love you a lot,
Mom and Dad
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Thanks for your faith in me and your encouragement always – love you guys! ❤
Diana xo
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Diana, I think your third paragraph above captures who you are and what you do in a nutshell. Perhaps rework that a little, make it tighter for your brochure?
I’m struggling with a similar problem: rewriting my query letter for my novel. It is so hard to summarize an entire novel in two paragraphs, and make it sound irresistible to an agent or a publisher.
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I cannot imagine having to do that Jennifer. I wish you all the best. ❤
Diana xo
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It sounds like you’ll have a wonderful brochure very soon. I always find that creating the first draft is the most difficult part of writing.
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so true of all writing, isn’t it?
Diana xo
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You know what you want to say…. so listen to yourself and then go say it Diana.
(hint … see Russ’s réponse!)
People don’t want to experience a brochure either, they want to experience you.
Give them a taste of you …
😉
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Great advice. Thanks Val! 🙂
Diana xo
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EEK! This is the type of thing that also makes me uncomfortable. I’d focus on the ethics, probably–but I don’t know how to do this. What I do know is I have faith in you. ❤
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Thanks Mrs. F! Thanks for your vote of confidence. ❤
Diana xo
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How about “I understand ethical fundraising. I know the rights of donors. I know that engaging the community in dialogue instead of monologue is important and more effective. I know stories connect us. I know what works. I know what doesn’t work. I’ve been doing this in one way or another for 20+ years. I know my stuff – bottom line!”
That would work 🙂
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(smiling) and maybe include a full-length picture of myself with my hands on my hips and my reading glasses sitting half way down my nose? Love it!
Diana xo
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Sounds great. Go for it!
🙂
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haha you know… I like it too but nahh – I’m not that brave!
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What you are doing (setting up the business) takes much courage. The ‘selling’ part can take an extra zap of boldness. It is definitely where I crumble.
What I have learned over 40 years of business is this. I am OK with one-on-one; weak at the knees with crowds. So I always design brochures as if I am talking to someone one-on-one, the way I would like to be spoken to. I focus on the person I am seeking to help and the desired outcome for them and ever so subtly incorporate messages about how the business may help bring that about..
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That’s a communication strategy – you’re a smart lady!
Diana xo
p.s. I have to tell you this: someone I don’t know read this post on LinkedIn and sent me a message to ask if I need his help with designing my brochure – he’s a marketing/designing/communications guy! 🙂
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Fantastic! I hope that he can help you 🙂
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I love this post! I can totally relate. Any time you own your own business, you have to be a sales person as well (unless you employ someone else for that part). And that’s always the part I hate most for the exact reasons you’ve outlined. I feel like I’m breaking my arm patting myself on the back. 🙂
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With you being an author, it just dawned on me that maybe I could get a bunch of people to write a forward… you know? Like in a book? 😉
Diana xo
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That’s a great idea!
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Maybe approach it like your about page for your blog…which I haven’t looked in ages. Use your blog tagline here …for organizations.
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Thanks Jean, maybe I can find some useable text there. I haven’t looked at it in a while either haha!
Diana xo
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I think this is the hardest thing for us folks trying to reinvent ourselves into new careers. Young people are adept at using social media, airing every detail in their lives 24/7; we’re much more hesitant to flaunt ourselves. You seem on the right path– keep at it!
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You may just be right about that Lisa. Thank you for your encouraging support!
Diana xo
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Beautiful and hilarious honesty here Diana. Thank you for the laughter and the courageous insights. Yes, how does one ‘sell’ oneself? Man, that’s a tough one. Like you, I know what I know, but how would I put that on a brochure? Not an easy task but I have every faith it will flow once it starts. Okay that’s wishful thinking.. it might be tough but it will come. You have tremendous experience and gifts to offer. Thanks for all you share Diana, in your posts, in your kind comments, and in the world. You are a wonderful beacon of light, and I am so thankful for you! xo Gina
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(smiling) Thank you so much Gina – the feeling is mutual!
Diana xo
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D, I’ve written numerous bios for professionals but when it comes to writing about me, my accomplishments, it’s very difficult! I tend to downplay my accomplishments or shrug them off whereas when I write about someone else, I can get the a seed of greatness (and expound on it) out of pure, raw content. Why is that?
So I know what you’re going through. I’m working on something for myself as well and maybe the secret is stepping back and looking at yourself objectively. Very tough to do. Or asking someone else to sing your praises–let them tell you how great you are, your strengths, etc.
Good luck–I know you’ll come up with just the right words. 😉
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Oh my – I so relate! Thanks Brigitte for your faith that I’ll be able to figure this out. ❤
Diana xo
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Just takes a little genius, eh? 😀
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Right! 😉
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I look forward to experiencing what you create, Diana. I even think a variation of your third paragraph would work. Something along the lines of:
I Know:
Your target audience
Ethical fundraising
Rights of donors
Ways to effectively engage your communities and stakeholders
Ways to connect people with stories
What works and what doesn’t
Many of the challenges you face and cost-effective ways to overcome them
I’ve gained this experience in the 20+ years I’ve been effectively doing these things for various non-profits and have the long-term track record to prove it. I’d love to talk with you to explore ways I can you in these areas.
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Nice! Thank you Russ!
Diana xo
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I kind of thought the first three paragraphs did a pretty good job of it! Simple, straight-forward and to the point.
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(smiling) Hugs to you Smitty! Thanks for your support and encouragement.
Diana xo
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I think it depends on the situation. I believe in under-selling and over-producing. I would cover each service in a bullet point give a short description of your background and expertise and let it rip! You can always update it… 🙂
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So true Susie – it’s not written in stone!
Diana xo
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Love this. I can relate. I always say people should see my worth and value I shouldn’t have to tell them but in reality sometimes you have to be able to sell yourself. It is uncomfortable yes but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet to get to the next step.
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Yes. There must be some element of that in there somewhere, somehow! Thanks Rashieda!
Diana xo
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If there was just some way to get in front of these people and SHOW them what you can do, instead of talking about it, that would be the way to go. I don’t know much about “selling yourself” other than what you would do in a normal job interview, but I think if you could show them what you can do, like a “gimme a chance, a trial run,” then you’d be golden. Don’t sell yourself short!
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Thanks for your feedback and encouragement Rose!
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Now is this post interesting or not 🙂
I can make cold calls, walk up to strangers, etc and make a sales pitch – for my employers! But when it comes to selling my own services – I get tongue tied and keep an eagle eye on the Bull Shit meter too.
All the best, Diana 🙂
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Thanks Eric – I can so relate!
Diana xo
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I know exactly what you mean Diana! When I was teaching at the university, I was encouraged to apply for a promotion. I spent weeks struggling with writing something that said I was the flavour of the year but was too self-effacing to do it well -ha! Needless to say, I didn’t get the promotion and I learned a big lesson about self- promotion.
GO FOR IT – you are awesome!
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Thanks for your support and encouragement Julie!
I don’t think I’m self-effacing… I just always think it sounds pompous! ha!
Diana xo
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Again, I know what you mean but you have to do it the way they want, pompous-sounding or not. I couldn’t do it but YOU CAN!
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I’m doing it the way I want and hopefully in a way that will attract the target audience I want by virtue of the style I use! Then again, I could be deceiving myself…
haha but yes in the world of academia they have ‘their way’ of doing things and one must comply.
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I used to be in the business of helping people write brochures, Diana. I’ve always found it easier to help promote others than to sell myself. xoxo
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Yes me too Ann!
Diana xo
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