Growing Your Bad-Assery 💥

Brains, brawn, and a badass resume. Keep lifting.

I recently gave a presentation about self-promotion at the Alexandria Community Co-Working Space. This is based on an online class I created called How to Sell Yourself Like A TV Show. Most of the attendees had recently been furloughed by recent government cuts.

The audience was, understandably, tense. They have been through so much sh*t the past few months. My goal was to offer some help in ways they can recognize how talented they are. ✨

One attendee challenged me about changing industries. He wanted to know why I never mentioned years of experience and whether it shouldn’t count for something. I told him that it absolutely counts for something, but should be recognized for accomplishments, not just duration.

If you’ve been in a job for 10 years, you should have a good track record to show for it. Highlight the hits! 🎯

He then asked me if I thought I could jump to healthcare as a project manager. I chuckled a little bit. I then told him how I had been certified as a project manager in the past year. The vernacular, I confessed, was different, but the overarching job and tasks were not. I had successfully managed budgets, teams, and deadlines. I had done the exact same thing in television. 🎬 ➡️ 🏥

Some laughs ensued, and I finished my presentation. Afterwards, he and I spoke, and I got his backstory. He was justifiably angry and frustrated after a career in public service—the idea of shifting to a new industry after such a commitment was crushing.

I get this. I’ve written about how the television industry is changing and how many of us need to adapt. I’m also Gen X and am not too fond of the idea that I must reinvent myself. I’m happy with the groove I’ve created. 😎

But just like the evolution of linear to non-linear editing, film to video, and producers to content creators, the workforce changes. And while it may be wholly unjustified and extremely unfair, it happens. 🔁

He and I talked later, and I found out his interests. It turns out he has a remarkable side business. We talked about what motivated him and then recommended some classes he could take—all free or very low cost. He initially balked, but I reminded him:

Knowing that you already are a badass is affirming and a huge ego boost. 💪 And adding to an already stellar slate of talents makes you even more of a badass. 🚀

Grow your badassery. Learning keeps your brain limber and makes you feel good about yourself. Go to Udemy, LinkedIn, and other platforms. The more you know—plus years of experience and problem-solving—make you awesome. 🧠✨

And be fully unapologetic about your badassery. You got this. 🔥