Self-Censorship Svcks If We Let It.
Let’s start with a poem:
If yov’re easily rvffled, don’t cover yovr ears,
Cvz there is not one word here to bring yov to tears.
If profanity thrills yov, yov’re shvt ovt of lvck,
Cvz the word that I’m vsing is friendly ol’ “FVCK”!
No, I’m not gonna write the whole article without a single “u”. Nor am I going to have the entire piece rhyme. Fact is, at the moment, my mood doesn’t call for “the Fvck word,” and I would not use it gratuitously. My point is, we are in a moment where we spend more time worrying than communicating.
Donnie Boivin, one of the great B2B Networkers and Trainers, planted the seed for this article a while back with a post of his and while I can’t find the post I want to offer a nod to his wit and wisdom. Donnie, if you can share your post in the comments, please do!
This is not about profanity, or what is or is not appropriate for LinkedIn. It is about what’s appropriate for your brand.
I’m a collaborator by nature. I am thrilled when my suggestions are appreciated, but it’s never about foisting them on someone else.
What I wish for my clients – and for all of you – is courage. The courage to step into the light and lead your mission effectively. Do we really have time to waste? Or should we confront whatever fears are holding us back?
I’m no stranger to fear, I know its scent. I can tell when it’s dumped into the atmosphere like so much soot, clouding, confusing, and limitingour ability to progress. Fear is like an oily substance released by Bond from an Aston Martin during a car chase, creating a slippery slick that causes us to slide around and drift off the road.
What are we afraid of? That’s the funny thing about fear: its effectiveness is not tied to specificity. Getting sued. Getting censored (or censured). Getting fired. Not getting hired. Getting arrested. Deported. Blacklisted. Listed, period.
Look, there’s plenty to be afraid of these days, and a scared public is a docile public. So, naturally, our instinct may be to cower, to hide, to NOT MAKE ANY NOISE.
“I’ll just keep our USP here in the corner, and give someone a peek when no one’s looking.” Not great for business, is it?
The good news is, the better we know ourselves, the better we are at branding ourselves. Messaging is the single most important element of your sales and marketing strategy, exceeded only by the quality of your product & offer.
The more thoroughly you think through your brand qualities, values, and sensibilities, the more words (utilizing ‘u’, ‘v’, ‘f’, and every other letter) you have at your disposal. As I like to say, “Why memorize a 30-second elevator pitch when you can become fluent in your unique brand language?”
So, the answer, it seems to me, is not in censoring our language, but in our facility with it. Nurture the individual spark that sets you apart. And use it to light the torch for the people you lead.
If you haven’t already, sign up for Earning Your Wealth-Respect with Humor & Humanity, my info-networking event coming up July 31!
Right now, you can get my 2 cents for .99 cents on Amazon! Read and review Selling the Truth: A ‘Semoir’ with Insights for Life and Business.
And feel free to book a free 1-1 Personal Brand Audit with me!
