Tag Archives: Making an Impression

The Talented Mr. Trump

https://instagram.com/p/zcyxvhmhac/

If you are worried about Donald Trump becoming President, don’t. There is zero chance of that. There are surface things that need to be in place for someone running for this office. Like having the adoring family standing by your side. I haven’t seen Melania or Ivanka or Donald, Jr., or the other “Trumpettes.” I think he knows all this and deep down, he may not actually want to be President. I do, however, think he wants to keep himself in the public eye and he is the best at that.  Donald Trump is a master of the media.

Think about it: Announcing he’s running, then each business and joint venture partner announcing day after day after day that they’re cutting him off. Then his Arizona speech and all the media coverage. He’s almost never off the front page. His polling is up. The GOP and other candidates are scared. It’s a brilliant strategy.

Trump is immensely entertaining, too. Take a look at his Instagram videos. If you think of him as a bloviator in his public speeches (and he certainly can be), his videos are as short and effective as can be. He does them from his desk and makes one point. I particularly like this one.

As I wrote in my last post, the idea of constantly having to self-promote is exhausting. I think that may be true for me and for others. Maybe it’s introversion. It’s clearly not true for Trump, who seems to love it. I think one has to to be good at it.

Those of us who don’t find it enjoyable simply have to find another way.

 

 

Hyping Myself Has Become Exhausting

There was a great article by Kathleen Parker of the Washington Post concerning our culture of social media self-promotion.  She particularly takes issue with what she terms the “humble-brag.”

“As in: ‘I looked like a wet mop the day I got the Pulitzer.’ Something like that.”

She’s onto something. I’ve felt it for years. Having to constantly post pictures of cool locations I happen to be in. And I am fortunate indeed to live in a beautiful waterfront community near NYC.

Of course, my husband and I worked our tails off to provide this lifestyle for ourselves and the kids, but that’s not what I generally reveal. No. I take photos of the gorgeous surroundings, with a caption about working from the beach today (humble-brag). Or Instagram a photo of Times Square USA, as if I own the place (humble-brag). While I’m regularly in New York because it’s my hub city and a place where many of my clients are, I don’t own a home there any more (humble-brag), much as I’d like to have a little pied-å-terre.

The whole thing has started to give me a headache. Like Parker, my parents taught me if you had money, you didn’t talk about it. And the people who did, well, they were really broke.

I think that’s accurate.

Going to be trying to break this habit. After breaking the original one.

It’s Wedding Season

This time of year brings lots of inquiries that go something like this: “I have to give a toast at a wedding, and I don’t know what to say/want it to be funny/i’m scared to death…” and the like. (A funny thing is it’s often a wife who will call on behalf of her husband. Hmmm.)

My first response is, “Relax, this is the most fun you’ll have in public speaking and a great opportunity to impress family, friends, and maybe even bosses and colleagues.”

Besides my usual advice to prepare and practice (a lot), and embrace any stage fright, here are some additional steps:

  • No alcohol beforehand. This is a huge mistake so many people make. Drinking doesn’t relax you, it dulls you, throws you off your game.
  • Don’t embarrass the bride or groom. Or anyone else. Stories should be warm and funny, touching.
  • Be emotional. Don’t break down in sobs, but it’s ok to well up a little. This is one of the only venues this type of thing is acceptable.
  • Keep it short: 5 minutes at most, provided it’s entertaining. We speak at approximately 140 wpm (words per minute), so do the math.
  • Don’t read it. You can use notes to stay on track. Practicing will help you learn it so it seems more spontaneous.

After you’re done, and you have everyone laughing, crying, thinking, “Wow, that was perfect,” raise your glass and celebrate the happy couple — and yourself — by taking a nice, big swig.