People are talking about me, and I started it

People talk about you the way you talk about yourself.

I know this from having an online portfolio for the last decade at least.

When I've been asked to do an interview or speaking engagement, or I'm featured in a publication somewhere, I without exception hear my own portfolio quoted back to me.

The person introducing me has researched me and used my own introduction, copied word-for-word straight from my portfolio. The accolades I'm proud of, the title I prefer, the parts of my background or skills I want people to be aware of – they recite it back to me, just like I wrote it.

"What's said again and again becomes my reputation. It just so happens, I said it first."

Why? Because I've made that the easiest option for them. By giving them a prepared bio they can simply copy & paste from my site, I've done their job for them. They don't have to dig around online and scrape together their own impression of me and what I do, because it's ready for them on my website.

This gives me control over my identity and reputation as a designer. I've chosen my words carefully to position myself for I want to do in the future. In doing so, I've shaped that future. What's said again and again becomes my reputation. It just so happens, I said it first.  

The best advice I can give for work and life: Make it easy for people to help you, and they will. By having a current online portfolio with a succinct & smart bio, I've made it easy for people to talk about me to other people. I did a little bit of work now to spare them the work later, and now I'm rewarded for it again and again.

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