Bragging Right

Don't have friends smooth enough to do that? Yeah, neither do we.

So, Solovey, the "Apprentice" candidate, had it right: Ultimately, no one else can promote for us.

Solovey never became Trump's lackey -- he was fired in the show's third episode, although he returned in the finale to offer a briefcase with $250,000 in exchange for the apprenticeship. (Trump turned him down, and it was later revealed that Samsonite paid Solovey to present the briefcase in front of 28 million viewers. How's that for stealth promotion?)

"Every day we're selling ourselves," Solovey says. "People are secondarily buying the product -- they're buying you and your beliefs and what you present."

Easy for him to say: He makes his living as an auctioneer.

But, come to think of it, maybe self-promotion is really about taking a stand on the auction block, about laying out your best qualities and accomplishments. It's a gamble, of course, but have heart: After all, don't you deserve the highest bidder?

Keep Reading

Tips: Your Best You Forward

Quiz: Test Your Promo Know-How