By Jeff Altman, Big Game Hunter
Being bold can be a huge advantage professionally
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Today, we’ll break down how to completely transform your professional image. We’re going to dive into the power of boldness, but I’m talking about the kind of power that gets you noticed for all the right reasons. You know the feeling, right? We’ve all been there.
You’re in a meeting or interview, and you have the perfect insight, the absolutely perfect question, but you just hesitate. By the time you finally work up the courage, the conversation has moved on. The moment has passed.
See, in a competitive job market, that moment can mean everything. We’re not just talking about a missed beat in the conversation. We’re talking about missed opportunities, connections you didn’t make, points you didn’t score, and maybe even jobs you didn’t win.
It’s a small moment that can have huge consequences. So let’s get started. Why are we frozen like this? What does this really cost us in the long run? This is the heart of the matter.
You know, the people who are really successful, the people who get promoted or start their own business, they don’t hold themselves back. They take action. They fired.
They put themselves out there. Although many of us become our own biggest obstacles. This is the crazy part.
This hesitation is natural. Think about it. From the time we were children, the entire system was designed to reward obedience.
In school you are often told to keep quiet and do what you are told. In your first job, you succeed by obeying and following instructions. We are truly designed to blend in, not to stand out.
Well, if hesitation is the enemy, then boldness is the answer. But, and this is absolutely critical, we must understand that being bold doesn’t mean being the loudest person in the room. It’s not because it’s annoying.
Let’s get this definition straight. You see, confidence is just a feeling. This is internal.
But be bold, that’s what you do with the feeling. The key is to seize the opportunity, ask for a raise, and introduce yourself to the person on the other side of the room. It’s an active skill, not just a passive trait you’re born with.
That’s where it gets really interesting. This is the key difference. Arrogance comes from competition.
When an arrogant person hears your story, their first reaction is, how can I get past this? Boldness, on the other hand, is collaborative. A bold person asks questions. They make you feel important.
It’s this that makes them so memorable. Yeah, so before you can actually act bold, you have to do some work on that inner voice. You know, being programmed for years to just be submissive.
It’s all about consciously shifting your inner mindset. This is your new mantra. Seriously, you have to make a conscious choice to feel like you belong.
It doesn’t matter if you’re in a room with billionaires or you’re the most underdressed person at a fancy event. You are human just like them. Feel like you don’t belong here? This is a choice.
So you can only choose the opposite. Check out this story. It perfectly illustrates the power of this mindset.
As a teenager, Steven Spielberg put on a suit, walked into the studio, and got to work. For a whole month, no one questioned him. Why? Because his actions demonstrate confidence.
There he is. So he must belong there. It’s that simple.
Now, if you’re worried about what others will think of you, let me tell you a liberating truth. People aren’t thinking about you. Or at least not as much as you might think.
They might make you think about it for, I don’t know, three to eight seconds longer, and then, they go back to their favorite subject of all time, themselves. Knowing this gives you the freedom to take action without fear of being judged. Okay, let’s get practical.
How do we actually build this? Well, like any muscle, courage gets stronger the more you exercise it. The good news is that you can start with some very simple, low-risk reps. Here are the first steps you can take today.
First, smile at people until someone stops smiling. Then notice that nothing bad happens. Second, compliment someone with zero agenda.
Like, hey, that’s a great hat, and walk away. Third, during the conversation, don’t try to exaggerate their story, but instead ask, tell me more about it. These small acts of generosity can boost your confidence like crazy.
So are you ready to upgrade? It’s a bit of a crazy exercise, yes, but it’s very effective at destroying your sense of self. I want you to try this. Put a Band-Aid on your forehead or cheek and start your day.
You’ll feel like everyone is staring at you, but you’ll also have a breakthrough realization. So what if it is? This whole experience teaches you that self-awareness is something we do to ourselves, and if we create it, we can also defeat it. Okay, this is the key part.
How do all of these mindsets and these fun exercises work, and how do they really translate into the high-stakes world of job interviews? How do you boldly really stand out and get hired? This, my friends, is the ultimate daring skill. There’s a saying about Bill Clinton that when he talks to you, he has this incredible way of locking in and making you feel like you’re the only person on earth for those 30 seconds. This kind of focus is definitely attractive, and it’s a skill anyone can learn.
This is the script. One of the great secrets of interviewing is that the more they talk, the more they like you. Your job is not to give a long monologue about all your skills.
No, your job is to be curious, ask smart questions about the interviewer’s challenges, their successes, and make them the hero of the story. I guarantee you, they will leave that room thinking you are brilliant and charming, even if they actually know very little about you. This does leave us with one last thought.
Many people worry too much, but what are the real options? Not enough? Easily forgotten? The real risks in your career don’t stand out. The real risk is that you blend in so completely that no one sees you at all.
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About Big Game Hunter Jeff Altman
People hire “Big Game Hunter” Jeff Altman to provide no-nonsense career advice around the world because he makes so many things in people’s careers easier. These things may involve job hunting, recruiting more effectively, managing and leading better, career transitions, and advice on solving workplace problems.
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