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April 17

Why Bragging Might Be the Most Important Skill You Never Learned

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When we were kids, we were told not to brag.

Don’t show off. Be humble. (Thanks Kendrick for the reminder)

That message stuck — and for a lot of federal employees, it became a way of life.

But in today’s job market? That mindset can hold you back.

Because the people who get noticed know how to talk about what they bring to the table.

When Humility Backfires

Here’s the thing: many private-sector employers don’t understand the value of public service — unless you make it clear.

And that’s not easy to do if you’ve spent years letting the work speak for itself.

Common struggles I hear from laid-off federal folks:

• Translating your role into plain English
• Feeling weird talking about yourself
• Freezing when someone asks, “So… what do you do?”

You’ve done hard things. You’ve served your country.
Now it’s time to own that.
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Brag — Without the Cringe

There’s a book I always recommend:

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​Brag! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It by Peggy Klaus.

I first read it during a job search in my twenties — my mom gave it to me. Since then, I’ve passed it along to dozens of friends. I even met Peggy in person. She’s warm, sharp, and knows what she’s talking about.

Her advice:

✅ Find your story

✅ Break it into “brag bites” — short, memorable, true

✅ Practice saying them out loud

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➡️ You can hear Peggy explain it here.

Time to Advocate for You

You’ve spent your career advocating for others.

Now it’s time to advocate for yourself.

Being able to talk clearly and confidently about your value isn’t bragging — it’s surviving.

If you’ve just been laid off, or you’re figuring out what’s next, this book is a great place to start.

You don’t need to oversell. Just be real. And be ready.

Because you are your best spokesperson.

Warmly,

Craig

P.S. Don’t just read the book. Try the exercises. Say your brag bites out loud. Test them with a friend. It’ll feel weird at first — and then it’ll feel like power.

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