picture credit: Thrive Church

The only safe way to boast is by constructive actions.

It has been said that it’s not boasting if you can really do it. This may be true, but a far more persuasive argument is made when you do it first and talk about it later. Besides, good things that are said about you always carry more weight when they are said by someone other than yourself.

When you find yourself tempted to wax eloquent about your achievements, force yourself to pause for a moment, take a deep breath, and ask someone else about their achievements. ~ Napoleon Hill

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Don't tell me how awesome you are, show me by how you treat others.

Don't tell me how inspiring you are, show me through sharing a story about your recent experience you think might inspire me.

Don't tell me how skilled you are, show me your results.

Social proof - that's what we call it in marketing. Show me via your reviews, your recommendations, your testimonials. Show me via your images that include the successful people you talk about hanging around with. Show me via video of you doing what you're skilled at doing.

Just telling me, over and over and over again, leads me to believe that you simply love the sound of your own voice and that you're your only cheerleader. I've seen a few people like this online, have known a few over the years. They're annoying people with an attitude I prefer to not be around.

And, definitely not what I want to be like!

My preference is to wait until I've done them before talking about them. I don't want to be distracted by the thought of having to live up to the expectations I set, but instead be free to do my best. Then to share what occurred, afterward.

I also know that no matter how good I think I am, there is someone who is better.

When I enter a competition I have a better outcome if I don't speak of my skill or of winning beforehand.

I was recently in a state level pool tournament and many around me spoke of winning their next match, or their goal was to win the final title. Of course, some won the match but none of them won the title. I spoke of playing my best game, playing one shot at a time. And, I did well. I did say, once, to my friends to not worry, that I was going to win this match - and it was a bit more difficult than it should have been to win, though I did. Then I went back to saying that I was going to play my best game.

If I am confident in my ability to say, do, or be something you need me to be, I can show you through my actions. I may call attention to it with my words, so you can know that I am showing you something on purpose. But those words are backed by action.

What do you think of braggarts?

Do you need proof? Social proof?

Would you rather be shown than told? Or a combination of the two?