{"id":14,"date":"2012-06-23T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2012-06-23T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/freedomwithpeter\/waysyoushouldneverdescribeyourself\/"},"modified":"2026-07-27T18:05:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T18:05:19","slug":"waysyoushouldneverdescribeyourself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/empowernetwork.com\/freedomwithpeter\/waysyoushouldneverdescribeyourself\/","title":{"rendered":"Ways You Should Never Describe Yourself"},"content":{"rendered":"

Overture: <\/strong>
\nHave fun while listening to the tracks chosen as the soundtrack to Today\u2019s
\n\u201cEmpowering Freedom with the Empower Network<\/a><\/span>\u201d
\nBlogs.<\/p>\n

Real people, helping real people\u2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hi There, Friends of Freedom:<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

As is my custom, I was sitting with my morning beverage today<\/p>\n

going through my morning routine<\/p>\n

Exercise \u2013 Envision \u2013 Read \u2013 Meditate \u2013 Pray \u2013 Empower<\/strong><\/p>\n

thinking about what messages I have received that would benefit<\/p>\n

the communities of action that I am a part of<\/p>\n

when\u2026<\/p>\n

The following post<\/p>\n

10 Ways You Should Never Describe Yourself<\/h2>\n

When other people use these words to describe your talents, it\u2019s OK. When you<\/em> do it, you just sound like a pompous jerk.<\/h2>\n

found me. Hmmm\u2026 I had to learn more. Is my marketing message<\/strong> <\/span> being mis-interpeted?<\/p>\n

Jeff Haden of\u00a0 inc.com<\/span> wrote<\/p>\n

Picture this: You meet someone new. \u201cWhat do you do?\u201d he asks.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m an architect,\u201d you say.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, really?\u201d he answers. \u201cHave you designed any buildings I\u2019ve seen?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe,\u201d you reply. \u201cWe did the new library at the university\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh wow,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019ve seen it. That\u2019s a beautiful building\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

And you\u2019re off. Maybe he\u2019s a potential client, maybe not\u2026 but either way you\u2019ve made a great impression.<\/p>\n

You sound awesome.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now picture this: You meet someone new. \u201cWhat do you do?\u201d he asks.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a passionate, innovative, dynamic provider of architectural services who uses a collaborative approach to create and deliver outstanding customer experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n

And he\u2019s off, never to be seen again\u2026 because<\/p>\n

you sound like a pompous ass.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do you\u2013whether on your website, or more likely on social media<\/span> accounts\u2013describe yourself differently than you do in person?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do you use hacky clich\u00e9s and overblown superlatives and breathless adjectives?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do you write things about yourself you would never have the nerve to actually say?<\/strong><\/p>\n

If so, it\u2019s time for a change.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some words that are great when used by other people to describe you, but you should never use to describe yourself:<\/p>\n

\u201cMotivated.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n

Check out Chris Rock\u2019s response (not safe for work or the politically correct) to people who say they take care of their kids. Then substitute the word \u201cmotivated.\u201d Never take credit for things you are supposed<\/em> to do\u2013or be.<\/p>\n

\u201cAuthority.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you have to say you\u2019re an authority, you aren\u2019t. Show your expertise instead. \u201cPresenter at SXSW\u201d or \u201cDelivered TED Talk at Long Beach 2010\u2033 indicates a level of authority. Unless you can prove it, \u201csocial media marketing authority\u201d just means you spend a ton of time on Twitter.<\/p>\n

\u201cGlobal provider.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

The vast majority of businesses can sell goods or services worldwide; the ones that can\u2019t\u2013like restaurants\u2013are obvious. (See?) Only use \u201cglobal provider\u201d if that capability is not assumed or obvious; otherwise you just sound like a really small company trying to appear really big.<\/p>\n

\u201cInnovative.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most companies claim to be innovative. Most people claim to be innovative. Most are not. (I\u2019m not.) That\u2019s okay, because innovation isn\u2019t a requirement for success.<\/p>\n

If you are innovative, don\u2019t say it. Prove it. Describe the products you\u2019ve developed. Describe the processes you\u2019ve modified. Give us something real so your innovation is unspoken but evident\u2026 which is always the best kind of evident to be.<\/p>\n

\u201cCreative.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

See particular words often enough and they no longer make an impact. \u201cCreative\u201d is one of them. (Go to LinkedIn and check out some profiles; \u201ccreative\u201d will appear in the majority.)<\/p>\n

\u201cCreative\u201d is just one example. Others include extensive, effective, proven, dynamic, influential, team player, collaborative\u2026 some of those terms truly may describe you, but since they\u2019re also being used to describe everyone else they\u2019ve lost their impact.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnique.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fingerprints are unique. Snowflakes are unique. You are unique\u2013but your business probably isn\u2019t. Don\u2019t pretend to be, because customers don\u2019t care about unique; they care about \u201cbetter.\u201d Show how you\u2019re better than the competition and in the minds of customers you will be unique.<\/p>\n

So there you have six for your immediate consideration. To learn more, to read the article in full:<\/p>\n

10 Ways You Should Never Describe Yourself<\/h3>\n

Related Media<\/strong><\/h3>\n

1. <\/p>\n