‘So, I did a thing…’ Why do millennials couch our successes?
“So, I did a thing…I graduated from medical school.”
“So, a thing happened today…I accepted a new job.”
“So, a thing happened last night. I might have beaten my 5k PR.”
Not a day goes by that a friend, colleague or Twitter connection posts something similar to these couched statements. Excited to share, but hesitant to admit success or take credit for a job well done.
Millennials are dubbed the “entitled” generation. We’re conditioned to be proud of our accomplishments as children, and our parents are known as supportive and proud of our achievements. But when we become adults, taking pride in our own accomplishments is seen as “snowflake” behavior. Cleary, with all our privileges and resources, we shouldn’t be proud of and share our accomplishments.
I disagree. Your stories can inspire others or help you achieve career success – I’ll highlight three reasons why you shouldn’t couch your achievements.
Reasons to share
1. Sharing expertise builds your brand
Talking about your accomplishments is key to career success. But it can be hard to talk about yourself; it’s even harder when it feels like no one cares what you have done. But the more you talk about your skills, the more people look to you as an expert.
For example, friends know I am passionate about running and marketing. I have had difficulties with running off and on due to injuries, but I’ve kept it up for almost eight years. Friends ask for advice about getting started, staying motivated, etc. While I’m not a pro (or even that good), they see me as an “expert” because it’s a big part of my social life and mental/physical health routine.
Marketing, on the other hand, is my profession. I’m the Director of Content Services at Stamats, a tenured marketing agency in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I’ve worked in digital and traditional marketing for a decade; I’ve spoken about marketing topics at international conferences. My clients, current and former colleagues, and industry professionals know me as an expert. Why? Because I talk about marketing all the time, and I’m an expert.
What if I had opened my Content Marketing World presentation with, “So, a thing happened. I might have helped a client win 200 conversions with a blog I might have written.”? I guarantee I wouldn’t have been invited to speak a second time. Industries want experts, not wafflers.
2. Sharing can help build self-esteem
Social media provides instant gratification, and that’s not always a bad thing. While people sometimes can be nasty on social, they also can be gloriously uplifting.
I belong to several professional networks on LinkedIn and Twitter. The majority of people in these groups love to hear about each others’ successes. We motivate and encourage each other. That’s not to say we always agree, but we value civil discourse; people who tear others down are ejected from the group.
3. Sharing helps others learn
Talking about our successes and the stories of how we achieved our goals can help others find their own way. Personal stories can be particularly helpful; often, people are afraid to ask personal or professional questions for fear of inadequacy.
There is a line between attention-seeking behavior and taking pride in your accomplishments. Your ability to discuss your successes directly affects your own trajectory, as well as the paths of others who look to you for advice and inspiration.
It can feel uncomfortable to discuss personal achievements, and you don’t have to share every story (nor should you). But if your experience can help someone, don’t couch your success; people want and need to learn from you.