You Deserve to Be in the Room. Now Start Acting Like It.
How to Confidently Share Your Wins Without Sounding Like a Walking Resume
We’ve all been there.
You’re sitting next to someone at an event, maybe a rideshare to a conference or the pre-panel coffee chat, and they start listing their resume. Loudly. "I’ve raised $20 million. I’ve raced professionally. I run three companies." Cool. And now you feel like crawling inside your tote bag.
That was me, sitting next to Angela, a brilliant pro cyclist-slash-founder-extraordinaire. And even though I run two companies and regularly speak on big stages, I started shrinking in that seat, as if I didn’t belong. That voice crept in: “You’re not doing enough. You’re not impressive enough. You’re not enough.”
Spoiler: That voice was dead wrong.
Because when I shared what I’m building: Cultivate A Network of Champions, Last Night’s Game, and everything in between, Angela’s face lit up. She was blown away. Not because I had a million followers or five zeroes after a revenue number. But because I shared my story like a human, not a headline.
This is your reminder: You don’t need a trophy shelf or a seven-figure milestone to talk about what you’re doing with pride. You just need to know how to share it confidently, conversationally, and without sounding like a robot reciting statistics.
Here’s how.
1. Numbers Belong on Resumes, Not in Conversation
Ever met someone who led with, “We’re in 52 countries, have 17 awards, and 20,000 monthly downloads”?
Yeah, me too. And I immediately stopped listening.
We think numbers prove our worth, but in conversation, they create a wall, not a window. People start calculating your salary or follower count instead of listening to your story. And that’s not a connection. That’s math.
Instead of saying, “I run a VC fund raising $50 million,” try, “We invest in women-owned tech companies.” That opens a door. It creates curiosity. It says, “Ask me more.” That’s what makes people remember you.
If you’re tempted to lead with a stat, pause. Ask yourself: What’s the story behind this number? Share that instead.
2. Turn Accomplishments Into Conversations, Not Monologues
Let’s say you started a membership program. You could say, “I have 500 members paying $25/month.” But what if you said, “I launched a membership this year that I’m really proud of, it’s creating community around XYZ topic.”
Now we’re talking. Literally. Because someone will ask, “What’s it about?” “Who joins?” “How did you start it?” You’ve opened the door to connection instead of shutting it with a mic drop.
Here’s a simple trick: reframe your wins as stories. Not statements. Not statistics.
"I lead a team of 15" becomes “At the office, we’ve been tackling this challenge together…”
"I was featured in a news story" becomes “A local reporter captured the heart of what we’re building, and I’m so proud of how it turned out.”
You’re not hiding your accomplishments. You’re humanizing them.
3. Don’t Wait to Be Asked. Lead With Curiosity.
Sometimes, people don’t ask what you do. It’s not because they’re rude. It’s because they’re afraid of offending you. Maybe you’ve been laid off. Maybe you’re between gigs. Maybe they just forgot.
So, how do you still tell your story?
Ask a question that invites a return volley:
“What are you working on right now?”
“What’s lighting you up lately?”
“What do you hope to get out of this event?”
The odds are that they’ll boomerang the question back to you. And when they do, be ready with something true, clear, and stat-free.
This isn’t about shrinking your success. It’s about shaping it for a real connection.
4. Own Your Story on Social Without the Humblebrag
Let’s be honest. Social media (especially LinkedIn) can feel like one long highlight reel of people doing “better” than you.
But comparison is a liar. You have something powerful to share. So say it like a human, not a press release.
Start with:
Gratitude. Thank the team, the mentor, and the moment that made the win possible.
Context. Share what it took to get there—late nights, tough calls, lessons learned.
Your why. Why does this moment matter to you? What does it represent?
Tag others. Celebrate collaborators. Lift others as you rise.
One of our favorite examples came from Lydia Davies, founder of Osprey, a community for women in sports and entertainment. Her posts aren’t just polished, they’re real. She tells the backstory, shows the hustle, and brings people along for the ride. She doesn’t just say, “I won.” She says, “Here’s what it took—and here’s who helped.”
And that’s what makes people stop scrolling.
5. Celebrate Like a Champion (Because You Are One)
When you learn a new skill, land a deal, or get invited to perform (shoutout Marisa, playing saxophone with local bands!), don’t downplay it. Don’t say “it’s nothing.” Say, “I’m proud of this—and here’s why.”
Say it like you mean it. Say it like it matters because it does.
And yes, that includes posting about it, sharing it, telling your friends, and inviting people in. Use your platform—any platform—to remind yourself and others that wins (big or small) deserve to be seen.
No one benefits when you play small. You don’t. Your community doesn’t. Your future opportunities don’t.
So, go ahead and discuss the membership you've launched. The board you joined. The event you’re speaking at. Just do it in a way that sounds like you, not like a résumé in human form.
Final Pep Talk: You Belong Here
You don’t have to be the loudest in the room to make the most significant impact. You have to be you.
You don’t need more awards, followers, or a fancy title to share your story. You need the guts to say, “This matters. And I’m proud of it.”
You are worth celebrating. You bring something no one else does, whether you’ve been working for two years or twenty.
So show up. Speak up. Share with purpose. And let the right people find you because you’re not afraid to be seen.
You’ve already done the hard work. Now tell the story behind it.
Want to boost your conversation confidence before your next event? Download my free 45 Conversation Starters Guaranteed To Create A Connection, perfect for those pre-meeting moments when you need to fill the awkward silence.
