The most dangerous, common, and overlooked problem in the world:...
Tim Denning@Tim_Denning
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Apr 17, 2026
~4 min read
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The most dangerous, common, and overlooked problem in the world:
Not wanting to self-promote.
It's why you lack opportunities, struggle with money & feel depressed.
Here is Gery Vee's 9-step protocol to beat the fear of self-promotion (for good):
Not wanting to self-promote.
It's why you lack opportunities, struggle with money & feel depressed.
Here is Gery Vee's 9-step protocol to beat the fear of self-promotion (for good):
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If you don't learn how to self-promote or you refuse to do it...
Then you will work for a corporation and outsource the sales & marketing to them.
That means they'll profit & you'll get far less than you're worth and have zero control / ownership.
Then you will work for a corporation and outsource the sales & marketing to them.
That means they'll profit & you'll get far less than you're worth and have zero control / ownership.
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The people that hate self-promotion believe in these LIES:
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Lie #1: "I'll attract bullies or trolls."
Unlikely unless you're Tom Cruise.
Forget about bullies or trolls. They want what you have.
The more people you piss off the more successful you are.
Unlikely unless you're Tom Cruise.
Forget about bullies or trolls. They want what you have.
The more people you piss off the more successful you are.
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Lie #2: "My work isn't good enough."
Yes it is.
The world doesn't crave experts. In fact they piss us off. We want leaders we can relate to.
If you don't believe in your work first, then no one else will.
Yes it is.
The world doesn't crave experts. In fact they piss us off. We want leaders we can relate to.
If you don't believe in your work first, then no one else will.
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Lie #3: "People will find my work if they want to"
No they won't.
• We're busy
• The internet is crowded
• Algorithms serve us slop
The solution is to MAKE people find your work.
No they won't.
• We're busy
• The internet is crowded
• Algorithms serve us slop
The solution is to MAKE people find your work.
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Lie #4: "A distribution channel will promote my work for me"
No 3rd-party is promoting your work for you
• Book publishers expect you to market
• Youtube won't promote your videos for free
• Google won't show your work without buying ads
• The record labels won't make you famous
No 3rd-party is promoting your work for you
• Book publishers expect you to market
• Youtube won't promote your videos for free
• Google won't show your work without buying ads
• The record labels won't make you famous
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Lie #5: "All I need is talent & the rest will figure itself out"
Talent isn't enough
If it was, then everyone on America's Got Talent or The Voice would be making money
Starving artists starve because they think talent is enough & so they ignore sales & marketing
Talent isn't enough
If it was, then everyone on America's Got Talent or The Voice would be making money
Starving artists starve because they think talent is enough & so they ignore sales & marketing
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Lie #6: "I'll just send my links to people who might find it useful"
Don't spam people with links to your work. It's desperate and needy. Instead...
Give value first. Then link at the end.
Don't spam people with links to your work. It's desperate and needy. Instead...
Give value first. Then link at the end.
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Lie #7: "Self-promotion feels annoying or like I'm pestering people."
For some portion of the crowd, what you do will make their day.
What's more annoying than self-promotion is to be invisible.
For some portion of the crowd, what you do will make their day.
What's more annoying than self-promotion is to be invisible.
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How to self-promote (without being sleazy or salesy):
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1. Self-promotion isn't salesy or sleazy
Persuading others through your content is just being helpful.
True sales is helping people.
Adopt this mindset and watch it change your life.
Persuading others through your content is just being helpful.
True sales is helping people.
Adopt this mindset and watch it change your life.
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2. Tell your stories
Instead of trying to sell, just tell people stories from your life and share what you've learned.
Stories persuade better than facts because they tap into our human nature & emotions.
Instead of trying to sell, just tell people stories from your life and share what you've learned.
Stories persuade better than facts because they tap into our human nature & emotions.
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3. Show some emotion you f*cking pussy
The best self-promotion makes people feel something.
That's why daring to be vulnerable is a superpower.
The best self-promotion makes people feel something.
That's why daring to be vulnerable is a superpower.
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4. Demonstrate instead of brag
• "Here's how I got a 6-pack"
• "I studied Warren Buffet's letters for 60 hours. Here's what to invest in"
Sharing wisdom from yourself/others makes you look smart & successful without you needing to promote yourself.
• "Here's how I got a 6-pack"
• "I studied Warren Buffet's letters for 60 hours. Here's what to invest in"
Sharing wisdom from yourself/others makes you look smart & successful without you needing to promote yourself.
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5. Build a personal brand
Not a company brand because people don't get excited to consume mindless ads.
Social media divided content up by humans, not topics.
A personal brand is just being yourself (minus the ego & selfies)
Not a company brand because people don't get excited to consume mindless ads.
Social media divided content up by humans, not topics.
A personal brand is just being yourself (minus the ego & selfies)
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6. Leverage social media
You don't need to jam content down people's throats. Just post on social media.
People will discover your work that way. And it'll give you distribution to share your ideas.
You don't need to jam content down people's throats. Just post on social media.
People will discover your work that way. And it'll give you distribution to share your ideas.
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7. Decide what you want to be known for
I want to be known for obsession. I want people to know that intensity is what they're missing.
Decide on your core theme. Then write the same thing 10,000 different ways.
I want to be known for obsession. I want people to know that intensity is what they're missing.
Decide on your core theme. Then write the same thing 10,000 different ways.
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8. Use achievements to build trust with strangers
Your highlight reel isn't bragging. Nope. It shows competence. It shows you're a practitioner.
It's fine to share your wins as long as you frame them in a way that's helpful to others.
Your highlight reel isn't bragging. Nope. It shows competence. It shows you're a practitioner.
It's fine to share your wins as long as you frame them in a way that's helpful to others.
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9. Create a public mission
We are all storytellers. Think of yourself like a Netflix tv show.
We crave a protagonist. We want a leader.
Create a mission that defines what you want to build. Example:
"Helping 1000 people start writing online."
We are all storytellers. Think of yourself like a Netflix tv show.
We crave a protagonist. We want a leader.
Create a mission that defines what you want to build. Example:
"Helping 1000 people start writing online."
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Final Thought
Self-promotion is a survival skill. And it can make you insanely wealthy.
Practice ethical self-promotion daily.
Self-promotion is a survival skill. And it can make you insanely wealthy.
Practice ethical self-promotion daily.
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I used quiet self-promotion on social media to build a 7-figure digital business.
You can too.
Here’s how: timdenning.com/100k-xc/
You can too.
Here’s how: timdenning.com/100k-xc/