Confidence is Showing Your Humanity

I sprained my wrist this morning on my way to the library to post my blog. It was raining and I clumsily stumbled over this pretty huge rock, landed on my hand and sat there kinda pissed off for a bit. It hurt and I was bleeding. I considered wrapping my sweater sleeve around it, finishing my trip and dealing with the pain when I was done with my work.

But I’m too much of a baby for that. I went back home, grabbed a Ziplock of ice and stopped the bleeding before I ventured back out. Now here I sit in my conservative suburban neighborhood library clunking the keyboard with a bag of ice attached to my hand. You should see the looks I’m getting.

Sometimes I think what’s wrong with these people – don’t we all bleed? And don’t we all have work to get done?

There’s a few of these over confident dudes in my circle of business associates. I came in contact with them through friends of friends (you know how it is), and they occasionally have a say-so in my business matters. Well, at least they think they do.

These guys often suggest that I show a stronger more confident cold face. Recently, while seeking sponsorship for my magazine, I decided to approach the owner of a neighborhood coffee shop (a place where my husband and I had our first date, and a place where I do a lot of my writing). My associates suggested that I do not share my personal story with the potential sponsor because that would weaken my business proposal.

I opted not to listen to them – again, and things are working out just as I want them to. I just started this magazine and I believe in using its newborn quality to my advantage. I’m not going to act like I’m the New Yorker, but I’m going to demonstrate the quality and the benefit of advertising with a seemingly small publication in any way that works for my audience. We did receive over 27000 site visits in our first week alone, and that looks great to sponsors.

In the coffee shop case it was more than okay to share my personal story. In fact, it was what motivated them to listen to me.

Yes, there is a line between business and personal – but it is very thin. Ultimately, we all want to connect with others. So, use your human touch or your personal story to connect with your clients and employees. If you can do that without fearing what they will think of you – then you are truly confident.

In one part of my life I am an editor. I am in charge of other writers and they come to me for support. In another part of my life I am a writer who has an editor who critiques my work with a fine toothed red pen. I often share my rejection letter experiences with my writers. In doing so, I have helped them to improve their skills and have strengthened our bond as a team.

Sometimes I cry, swear and even sweat – yeah I know. But guess what? So do your clients and your employees. People who want you to think they never get sick or stressed are probably hiding something. By letting others see the real you, just a bit – you are letting them see that you are a well rounded person.

Lasting relationship, even in business, are built on trust.  You will find that more people will trust you and hire you if they feel they can relate to you.

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