Getting Started

Has anyone ever said that you brag too much or are too cocky? Maybe you’re the quiet kid who never speaks up for yourself. In either case, you need to learn how to talk about your accomplishments. As children, we’re told to be humble and not to brag. But in the real world of school, sports, creative pursuits and work, everyone needs to promote themselves to succeed. So how do you turn the spotlight on yourself without being boring or obnoxious?

Successful tooting is based on having a clear sense of who you are and what you have already done. Yes, even teens have much about themselves that they can talk about! All it takes to become an artful self-promoter is to weave these interesting parts about yourself into a short, upbeat story called a bragologue. But first, to help think about your skills, talents and personality—about what makes you memorable—start with the “Take-12.” Feel free to skip around and work in any order. The key is, don’t rush! Take enough time to provide very specific responses.

Take-12 Questionnaire

1. What would you and others (friends, teachers, parents, coaches, etc.) say are three of the best things about you?
   
   
2. What are the five most interesting things you have done or that have happened to you in life so far?
   
   
3. What do you think is your strongest ability and how did you end up being good at it?
   
   
4. What do you like/love most about your life?
   
   
5. What are you most proud of having accomplished recently or in the past?
   
   
6. What new skills have you learned in the last year?
   
   
7. What difficulties have you overcome to get where you are today?
   
   
8. What important lessons have you learned from making mistakes?
   
   
9. What training or educational experiences have you completed and what did you gain from those experiences (academic, athletic, artistic, etc.)?
   
   
10. What groups are you involved with (school clubs, church groups, teams, etc.) and in what ways (member, officer, captain, etc.)?
    
    
11. How do you spend your time outside of school (hobbies, interests, sports, friends, family, and volunteer activities)?
    
    
12. In what ways are you making a difference in people's lives?

Adapted from BRAG! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It
(Warner Books). © Klaus & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved.

Your Bragologue

Now that you’ve completed the “Take-12,” you’re ready to create a bragologue. Ranging from thirty-seconds to three-minutes, bragologues grab the listener’s attention. When it comes to tooting about yourself, get creative with your story. If you recite a list of facts, you’ll come off as boring. Review your answers to the questionnaire, then use them to present yourself as the interesting and charming person you really are! You’ll often be whipping out your bragologue on the spur of the moment—whether with a new friend at a party or when catching up with relatives during the holidays—so make sure you are comfortable putting it together in different ways for different audiences. Practice your presentation a little each day for best results. Armed with a polished bragologue, you’ll be ready to promote yourself in any situation.

Bragologues in Action

Here is an example of how a bragologue might play out in a variety of situations for someone who answered Item 1 in the Take-12 by saying they give 100% effort to everything they do:

Asking for a raise
“Mrs. Martin, you’ve told me what I great job I’ve been doing with your yard for the past two years—how I always gives things my 100% effort. And you were really happy when I used my research skills to find a new mower for you last fall when yours broke down. Given all of that, I plan to charge $2 more each week beginning next month.”

Admissions interview
“In high school, while working on our school’s newspaper, I discovered I was very good at doing research. So when it was time to decide which colleges to apply to, I carefully checked out the English department at every school on the west coast. By giving this project my 100% effort, I’m now completely convinced that we would be a great match for each other."

Check-in with the coach
"Coach, I’ve been doing extra workouts to improve my conditioning, and it seems to be paying off. You know, I always give things my 100% effort and lately I’ve been lasting the entire game without running out of steam."

Keeping parent posted
"Mom, guess what? My English teacher told me today that my last essay was the best I’ve ever turned in! You’ve probably noticed lately I’ve been giving my 100% effort to homework and getting it done before you have to nag me. Hey, soon you’ll be needing one of those My Student Is On The Honor Roll bumper stickers for the minivan!”

Telling a friend what you’ve been up to
"You know how much time I’ve been spending at my dance classes lately? Well, I just found out that giving things my 100% effort got me that part in the Nutcracker! I really want you there for one of the performances, since you’ve been so nice about me missing out on time we usually spend together. Can I treat you to a ticket for one of the performances?"