7 Ways to Not Describe Yourself - Socially Attractive Humility

Many people make the same mistake all the time: describing themselves as something they may or may not be, and coming off as a jerk. But, the most socially attractive way to be is humble: letting people describe how you are, and give you a title.

When you give yourself titles, and try to act as though you're something, when you're not, people will flee from you. Listen up! This fake lifestyle, AKA a lie will only fly with people for so long. Sad part is, you don't notice it, until you have almost no networking. So, how do you need to stop describing yourself in 7 ways? Let's see...

1. "Guru" or "Expert"
   
   Now, I had to learn this myself, definitely. I once lost all of my potential networking in a previous field I was volunteering in, because of several times of calling myself an expert. I finally figured out this was happening because of my selfish attitude of "expertise" that I may or may not have had. What I learned was that I just needed to work hard and help people, and people would give me the title.
2. "Incredible" or "Incredibly..."
   
   If people want to call you incredible, then let them. However, if you call yourself incredible, especially on a normal basis, you're going to scare a lot of potential networking away.
   
   Using over-the-top adjectives to describe yourself is putting yourself up on a pedestal, which you don't necessarily belong. Let's say, for example, you put on a LinkedIn profile headline... "Incredibly successful blogger" or "Incredible at every type of programming". Why not just say "successful blogger" or "Experienced programmer"?
   
   It's a good idea to stay humble, so people know you're in the game for the right reasons. Money is not the only reason people are in a specific industry. Usually, there is another tie as to why they're working in a specific industry.
   
   Don't lie to yourself. Just be you, and let people describe you for who you really are.
3. "Architect"
   
   This title is saved for people who are actually an architect...meaning they're the ones designing building plans, scales, and other architecture. They make things look the way that the buyer will want them, because the architect is trained and experienced to do so.
   
   Just because you might architect a few things in your trade does not make you an architect. Architects have much more complicated jobs, so cut the act before it cuts you!
4. "Creative"
   
   Whether you're creative or not, don't describe yourself that way...just because everyone else does it. It's getting old. People will probably already guess that you're creative, especially if you're a designer or related field.
5. "Powerful"
   
   No matter what, this makes you sound like you have a big ego. Agreed? Don't call yourself powerful and ask for respect at the same time. Just because you make powerful tools, for example, doesn't make you (yourself) powerful.
   
   In this effect, the only thing powerful is the industry you're in, maybe. Which, this brings us to number 6.
6. "Innovator" or "Innovative"
   
   You're no innovator, unless you created a new industry. Which, this is rare. Steve Jobs might have been an innovator, or Bill Gates maybe. But, seriously, don't talk yourself around that your an innovator. Not only will you give people the wrong idea, but people will shy away once they see that you have little to no experience, you haven't created something awesome, or just the fact that you describe yourself this way. Let people describe you. I've said it enough.
7. "Worldwide" or "Global" or "Beyond Recognition"
   
   Don't describe yourself as anything worldwide, even if you sell products or do services around the world. This is because everyone else does it. Be different. When people see that you're like a good amount of other awesome businesspeople, they might just describe you as being worldwide.

Overall, it doesn't seem like people are very humble, because they bloat themselves much higher than they should. If you're really the leading person in your field, why are there people that are much smarter, richer, and more experienced than you? If there was already a creator of the industry you're working in, why do you call yourself the innovator or innovative?

Be real, be exact to who you are. Here would be the way I describe myself: "I'm a business blogger aimed at helping people grow and succeed."

If I wanted to bloat myself up higher than what I really am, I might say something like, "I'm an expert business blogger, the authority in business ideas, and the worldwide provider of powerful advice."

See the difference between the former and the latter? I'd rather be someone of humility than someone of pride. Because that pride in the latter paragraph there sounds not only untrue, but truly egotistical and anti-competitive.

Oh...also, when you describe yourself as things that you are not (being fake), you're being anti-competitive. Do you know what that means? (Competitive means you're challenging someone and actually breeding results from the competitiveness, e.g. Apple versus Google or Apple versus Samsung.)  Anyway, anti-competitive means that you're trying to be competitive, but you're not making progress, because you're faking it. People fail in their businesses, in their personal life, and as employees all the time, because they're anti-competitive. Don't be that way.

It's more appreciating to see a wonderful businessperson or employee have a calm manner, humble description of themselves, and overall excellent attitude. Again, be real, be yourself, and people will describe you for exactly who you are.

Have any reaction to this, or want to add more? Comment or question below, if you please.