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What are your bragging rights?  Do you even know?  In other words, what assets do you bring with you to a freelance job? Are you comfortable with talking about yourself, most freelancers are not and they need to be.  Bragging rights are your accomplishments, your expertise.  So, whatever you are good at and knowledgeable about you can brag about.

Still not comfortable bragging about yourself?  If you were brought up in the Midwest, you never bragged, you might make someone feel bad!  OMG, get over it!  Now, you need to brag and brag as LOUDLY as possible.  Freelance positions are given out solely on your list of bragging rights.

Not sure what your bragging rights are?  Follow these simple steps for figuring them out:

  1. Grab a blank sheet of paper or open a word doc
  2. List all software programs you have ever used, no matter if you are an expert at them or not
  3. List all Internet programs you have ever used, no matter if you are an expert at them or not
  4. List all the freelance positions and tasks you have ever worked on or completed
  5. List everything you use daily, i.e. phone, email…
  6. List every job title you have ever had, include the paper delivery person if you once wore that hat
  7. List everything you have ever done for a hobby

You lists should be pretty big, and make sure you include everything from your childhood.  I promise you will be amazed at how much stuff you have accomplished in your lifetime. And it will amaze you at what you will remember as you are making your lists!

Now that you have your lists done, look through them and highlight those items that you are proficient in, okay at, and need improvement on.  (Use different colors and make a key so you remember the difference.)  You could also use mindmap software to accomplish this.

Take out the items you are proficient in and add them to your Bragging Rights List!  Look at the items you are only okay at and make a list of what you need to learn more about. The remainder items should be the ones that need improvement, set aside time to learn them.  Your ultimate goal will be to add all the items to your Bragging Rights List improving your freelancer portfolio.

Bragging Rights are only good if you are comfortable talking about them.  The above steps should give you the confidence in yourself and your abilities as a freelancer.  With confidence, the assets you bring to everything freelance will just flow right out of your mouth.  It really is okay to brag about your assets, it almost necessary as a freelancer.

Creative Commons License photo credit: The GameWay