I saw two performers this weekend and they could not have been more different. Their contrasting styles were quickly evident as soon as they entered the stage, and remained so throughout their performances.
- One was deliberately “loud” in all she portrayed: dress, demeanor, and no shortage of being full of herself. Between singing Broadway classics all she did was talk about what: herself: her (now eclipsed) stage career, her awards, her self-image, dropping big names everywhere. All about her, that’s show biz, but well over the top. People left at the intermission, noticeably. It was a good thing she had a 1930’s style Big Band to sing over/with to pace her. Yes, she could sing well, she just was completely self-absorbed as an act, as a persona. A few stood for an ovation but most remained seated, probably over bowled with ego. In sum, she took away too much from the audience for her talent to be appreciated.
- The other was the scion of a famous musical family who let her 3-person band play solos as proof of why she associated with them, as she appreciated them and they appreciated her back, as she and they relished her inner talents and stage presence. Nothing flashy, just honest decades of developing her voice and phrasing of the great songs of decades (even one song 100 years old!) past. Comfortable within herself, not about herself, but who wrote and recorded the same songs, she captivated the audience. She got the double standing ovation she deserved. In working the auditorium, she gave of herself generously and graciously.
The point? Telling your story comes in different ways for different people. Egos need to be checked at the stage door. Don’t be too much, or the reader/listener/observer strays away.
So it is with your LinkedIn personal profile. When you let the combined melody and lyrics work within your applied artistry, the rich story of your career shines on its own, with honesty and sincerity, and with an ovation: when they contact you to inquire how you can work together.
Give of yourself to your LinkedIn profile readers in a measured yet confident way. Or choose to overbear and they’ll retreat and keep looking for another colleague, but not you.
Be real.
