As a fairly new business person, I get pretty nervous when taking in networking events. Networking events are all about “schmoozing” with people and bragging about your self (and your company). What I find so difficult is it is my nature to be humble. I am uncomfortable with tooting my own horn, because as a designer, I don’t expect EVERYONE to love my work. Design (like art) is relative. Maybe you hate my style – that’s ok – as long as I am proud to put my name on it, and my client is happy and receives positive feedback from his peers – that is really all that matters. You can not possibly please everybody all the time.

When I am in networking events, I wish I could just bring samples of my web site designs and have potential clients look at my work to decide if they want to hire me. Unfortunately, the way networking events seem to work, is that if you can talk about yourself highly enough,  people will start to believe you, and you will get hired based on your confidence alone.

People who are modest (like myself) tend to have a hard time with this. I think it is especially difficult for women… at an early age we are taught to “fit in and make friends” – we are not taught to boast about our achievements because doing so is a quick way to lose friends (mostly due to jealousy, I suppose)  Men on the other hand, are taught to “achieve and show-off, and try to be the “leader of the pack” At an early age, men are given rights to brag about all their achievements.

Bragging Rights is a skill that I am learning. It is hard to do, when it goes against your genetic grain. I know it is possible because I meet many business women who are very successful, and not afraid to show it or talk about it – I really admire them, and hope that with a couple more years of business under my belt, I will have the same confidence.