If your Mom was anything like my Mom, you probably heard at least a thousand times: “Don’t brag. Bragging isn’t nice. No one likes a show-off.” 

Good advice we needed to learn as we grew up and learned how to play nice with others. And it’s true—no one likes being around someone who’s constantly showing off or bragging.  

But now you’re an adult and a business owner. You want to promote your business, build your brand, and show potential clients just what you’re capable of doing. But there’s a problem—you don’t want to be known as a braggart.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BRAGGING AND SHOWING OFF YOUR WORK

When Mom drilled into our little brains that bragging was bad, she wasn’t thinking about promoting a business, demonstrating our skills, or showcasing completed projects as part of a marketing campaign and professional portfolio. And this is why you might need to adjust your thinking about what bragging is and what it isn’t. Because showing off your work is not bragging.

Bragging, by definition, often involves in-your-face arrogant boasting—and may not even be factually based. Marketing your business is quite the opposite—it’s honestly telling your story, explaining your process, and highlighting your commitment to excellence. You back the narrative up with images, videos, tweets, blog posts, etc. It’s sharing with prospective clients the products and level of execution you can deliver.  

Show off your work the right way—share your passion, creativity, and industry knowledge, but in a humble manner. Let your personality shine through without being overbearing. Share your successes but don’t forget to praise others for their wins. Sometimes you’re going to be in the driver’s seat; other times, it’s best to hop in back and do more listening and less talking. It’s all about finding that balance. 

THE SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE DILEMMA

It’s a given—if you want your business to grow in today’s modern world, you need to have some sort of social media presence. I’ve experienced it firsthand—starting years ago when I began to post on Instagram, and then someone reached out and said, “Hey, I follow you on IG. Our design firm would love to work with you.” That particular lead didn’t pan out, but it made me realize how powerful social media was in reaching people—people I would never have met any other way. And it was flattering to think people were following my posts, my projects, and liked what I was doing.  

But then there’s the flip side of social media—it opens you up to unfair criticism, unkind comments, and downright rude people making remarks online that they would probably never have the guts to say to your face. And that’s part of the dilemma business owners struggle with—you know you should be on social media but don’t want to deal with the potential negativity. Or you worry that viewers might view your posts as bragging—as if you think your work is better than everyone else.  

My advice: Don’t let the negativity of others hold you back from showing off your work on social media. I share liberally across many platforms—and do so today for the same reason as when I first started: I enjoy sharing. I love telling viewers about our process, giving a behind-the-scenes scoop on how we build, sharing tips and advice, talking about products we love, and introducing the talented team of people I work with.  

I love the feedback—good and bad. I’ve been called out on things I’ve posted, or someone might reach out and say, “Hey, I’ve done it that way before too. Just an FYI, you’re going to run into this problem…” or they point out a mistake that needs to be fixed. The team and I are constantly challenged by everyone who’s watching, and it allows us to adapt and learn. Ignore the jealous-driven comments and focus on the real-world feedback that can help you grow and become an even better builder. 

It’s time to discover what NS Builders can intentionally design and build for you! Contact us today to get started on your custom dream home. Together, we can make it happen. 

—Nick Schiffer