Have you ever run across a name-dropper? You know the kind of person I mean. Someone who brags about all the important people they know or how a particular lawyer, doctor, consultant they use has worked with a celebrity or somebody that everyone knows.
Name-dropping in that case is flat-out annoying and if you’re someone who does that, do us all a favor and stop.
There is a second kind of name-dropper that is a little more subtle, and those who do it aren’t doing it to brag on themselves. They actually do it to legitimize the work or projects they’re doing.
The other day I spoke with a woman who was setting herself up in a business similar to mine. I asked her what sorts of services she would offer to clients and she has some really amazing ideas. One thing stood out to me however: she named no less than 20 consultants, researchers, authors, and thought-leaders that she was following and was influenced by.
When she asked me what I thought, I challenged her with this thought:
I think it’s great that you follow so many people, but I would like to see you developing tools, ideas, processes, and curriculum that is based on YOUR research, YOUR ideas, and YOUR experience.
She agreed and I agreed to push her to innovate and create from her perspective. After all, if I am going to engage an expert, I’m more interested in what THEY know rather than who they can quote.
Maybe the goal should be:
Rather than being a name-dropper, why not be the person whose name is dropped?
How can you do this? You’ll get the answer in my next post!
