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CHAPTER 6Be bold about your personal vision

When there’s something you’re passionate about getting done, you’ve got to be bold and share your vision. Whether it’s a side project, an initiative at the office, a career advancement or a business, you’ve got to be vocal about it. You want everyone around you to catch your enthusiasm and to want to help you, even if it’s just in minor ways. External help can make a big difference. If you’re generally shy, focus on showing your passion for what you’re working on and people will be drawn to you.

When I was washing windows as a kid I approached strangers nonstop, enthusiastically helping them carry their shopping bags and asking if they wanted their windows cleaned. I would have had zero customers if I hadn’t been bold. Likewise, when I began OTG I couldn’t stop talking about it! It was — and still is — my baby. How do first-time parents react when you ask about their child? They gush and shower you with pictures! They tell you how beautiful and perfect the baby is, and how he or she is developing. You want to do the same with what you’re working on.

Self-promote

We all are a brand. Whether you’re building a company, a charity or your career, people will judge what you’re doing and the value of it. Promoting yourself, your cause, your path or your start-up is one of the most important things you can do to grow it without the traditional means of massive advertising. Hands down, self-promotion can make or break your endeavour in the ...