By Jason Richmond, CEO and Chief Culture Officer at Ideal Outcomes, Inc.
I know some extremely successful people who have remained remarkably modest while their star has continued to shine brighter and brighter. No one likes a braggard—especially if an individual’s boasts aren’t entirely truthful.
So what I’m going to suggest might sound a little strange. I recommend you create and continuously update both personal and corporate “brag documents.”
These are useful tools to memorialize and highlight achievements, successes, and unique strengths—a compelling record of what you or your company have accomplished and why it stands out in the marketplace. In a way it’s a springboard for the next stage of career and business development.
As Maya Angelou, writer, poet, and civil rights activist so brilliantly said, “You can’t know where you’re going unless you know where you’ve been.” Her words underscore the utility of a brag document. It serves as a reflective tool that ensures you remain anchored to your past achievements while steering toward future goals.
If you don’t keep track of your successes (minor as well as major) it’s easy to forget some of them a year down the road when you might need to impress a job interviewer or an investor. That’s not the time to hide your light under a bushel—that’s the time to confidently herald your skills and performance.
If you don’t record details of your small yet significant accomplishments on a regular basis, they may be hard to recall a year or two later when they have been overtaken by bigger events. By keeping a dynamic record, you ensure that no minor victory is overlooked—each one could be the key to unlocking future opportunities.
Crafting and regularly updating personal and corporate brag documents might seem counterintuitive to modesty, yet they are indispensable tools for career and business progression. Here are some key reasons why having a brag document can be beneficial:
Showcase Results
It helps you track and record your accomplishments, such as major projects, revenue growth, awards, or significant milestones. These are all vital for marketing purposes, pitching to potential clients or investors, and even internal motivation for you and your team.
Streamline Marketing and Sales
A ready-made document that you’ve regularly updated with successes and strengths can be easily incorporated into any materials you need to produce when there’s a sudden business request.
Boost Credibility
Demonstrating a track record of winning endeavors can build trust and credibility with potential clients, partners, or employers. It shows that you or your business has the proven ability to deliver results.
Internal Reflection and Motivation
Reviewing your brag document can be a great way to recognize and celebrate both you and your team’s hard work and triumphs. It can also serve as a motivational tool, helping your team see the tangible results of their efforts.
Prepare for Opportunities
Having a document ready can be helpful when unexpected opportunities arise, such as media interviews, speaking engagements, or spontaneous networking situations where you need to quickly convey your value.
Practical Tips for Your Brag Document
Perhaps this sounds like a lot of work…something you feel would be hard to incorporate into your already frenetic working day. Be assured, it is not. It’s simply a matter of discipline and getting into a routine. Set aside some dedicated time and it will soon become a habit. Think about how much easier it will be and how much time you will save when you have an urgent need to champion your accomplishments.
Here are four steps to integrate this practice seamlessly into your routine:
Regular Updates
Set a recurring reminder (I suggest weekly) to update your document with minor events and on a monthly or quarterly basis to align with project completions or performance evaluations.
Key Contents
What should the brag document include? Everything from revenue growth, major contracts, successful projects, product launches, industry awards, certifications gained, or any public recognition or media coverage. Also any contributions to social causes or community projects. Make a note of anything that’s a positive. Something that might seem insignificant today could well be a desired trait or outcome that a future boss or client desires.
Leverage Technology
Use digital tools like cloud storage for easy access and editing. Apps like Notion or Evernote can be particularly helpful in organizing and updating your achievements in a structured way.
Highlight Praise
Beyond listing achievements, incorporate testimonials and positive feedback from peers, supervisors, or clients. This enhances the credibility of the document and provides a holistic view of your impact.
It’s Time to Brag
The creation of a brag document is more than an exercise in self-promotion; it’s a strategic component of professional development and corporate growth. By regularly updating and reflecting on this document, you actively engage in shaping the narrative of your career or business, ensuring you are always prepared for whatever opportunity comes next.
To create an effective brag document, focus on clear, quantifiable achievements, notable projects, significant improvements, and other elements that highlight you or your business’s unique value proposition. By regularly updating a business brag document, you ensure that your achievements are always top of mind and readily available to effectively communicate to both internal and external stakeholders.