How to Talk About Your Wins Without Bragging

Key Concepts

• Sharing Wins Without Bragging: Techniques to effectively communicate accomplishments in performance reviews and job interviews without sounding arrogant.
• CAR Technique: A job interviewing formula (Context, Action, Result) designed to structure stories and prevent bragging.
• Confidence vs. Self-Importance: Differentiating between stating facts about one's abilities and making comparisons that sound arrogant.
• "We" Framing: Using collective language to build credibility and acknowledge team contributions, especially in performance reviews.
• Outcome vs. Effort: Focusing on tangible results rather than the difficulty or time spent on a task.
• Gratitude and Curiosity: Expressing appreciation and a desire for feedback to appear gracious and eager to learn.
• Free Booklets: Weekly downloadable resources accompanying YouTube videos, containing chapter notes, checklists, and tools.
• The Iron Man Analogy: A story illustrating the importance of a structured plan, coaching, and dedicated effort to achieve significant goals.
• Support Structure: The necessity of coaches, systems, and plans for personal and professional growth.
• Skill Building: Identifying, developing, and practicing skills aligned with career goals and deliverables.
• Ritual vs. Routine: Differentiating between mechanical actions and deliberate practices designed to enhance performance.
• Interview Mindset: Shifting focus from fear to opportunity, viewing interviews as chances to network, practice, and gain feedback.
• Valuable vs. Sexy: Emphasizing the importance of demonstrating value to others over making one's skills sound superficially appealing.
• Timeless Industries: Identifying sectors and skills that remain relevant regardless of technological advancements or market fluctuations.
• Leadership Coaching Program: A structured program offering lessons, workbooks, challenges, and group coaching for career development.

Sharing Your Wins Without Bragging

Coach Andy outlines a five-part structure for his live office hours, with the first segment dedicated to effectively communicating personal achievements without sounding boastful. This is crucial for performance reviews and job interviews, as failing to do so can lead to missed promotions, pay raises, and job offers. The core principle is encapsulated in the saying, "It's not who you know and it's not what you know, it's who knows what you know."

The CAR Technique

Andy introduces his "CAR" (Context, Action, Result) technique as a job interviewing formula designed to naturally prevent bragging. He has a detailed free video on his YouTube channel explaining this method. While not elaborating on the formula itself in this session, he focuses on four key mindset shifts to help individuals share their wins effectively.

Four Key Mindset Shifts

1. Confidence vs. Self-Importance:

   • Confidence: Stems from factual statements about experience and delivered results (e.g., "Thanks to my experience in doing this 10 times, I understand the best way to build it, which is why I executed the project that saved you 20%").
   • Self-Importance: Arises from comparisons (e.g., "Nobody can do operational efficiency like I can," or "There's no one on the team that could have done that").
   • Argument: Confidence is attractive, while self-importance is not. Focusing on contributions and avoiding comparisons leads to sounding confident. The CAR technique inherently avoids self-importance by focusing on factual narratives.

2. "We" Framing Builds Credibility:

   • Argument: Lifting others up does not diminish one's own credibility; it multiplies it.
   • Application: In performance reviews, using "we" to describe team accomplishments is appropriate, especially for managers. Even in job interviews, highlighting how others contributed can strengthen one's own narrative.
   • Example: Andy uses his newsletter as an example, acknowledging Cara's contribution in making it better by offering a different perspective, which doesn't lessen his pride in writing and delivering it.

3. Focus on Outcome, Not Effort:

   • Argument: Discussing effort (e.g., "It was difficult," "The market was down," "It took a year") sounds self-centered and is irrelevant to the listener.
   • Focus: Emphasize the results and how they were achieved.
   • Example: Instead of detailing the effort it took to help someone find a job, focus on the outcome: "I helped Sally find a job." Mentioning challenges Sally faced (age, industry change, country change) is factual, but dwelling on personal expertise ("I'm the only career coach who understands how to work in that country") sounds self-important.
   • Key Takeaway: Impact stories are compelling; effort stories lead to disengagement.

4. Be Proud and Curious (Gratitude):

   • Argument: Expressing pride and curiosity leads to sounding gracious and grateful, making one likable.
   • Application: In performance reviews, saying, "Thank you for the opportunity. That project was awesome. I'm really proud of the work that the team and I did. I'd be interested to know how you felt about it and if you have any feedback for our next iteration."
   • Benefit: This approach shows a willingness to learn and remain a student, rather than someone who thinks they know everything.
   • Key Takeaway: Gratitude always makes you likable.

Connection: These four points are designed to help individuals overcome the fear of sounding like a braggart by shifting their mindset towards confidence, collaboration, results, and gratitude.

Free Booklets for Weekly Videos

Andy highlights the free booklets he adds to his YouTube videos, available through his newsletter or the video descriptions. These booklets provide a more in-depth resource than standard chapter notes.

• Content: They include chapter notes, checklists, tools, and sometimes deeper explorations of topics.
• Process: AI is used to generate these booklets from transcripts, saving Andy time.
• Availability: Sent to newsletter subscribers on Tuesday mornings before the video is released.
• Examples: Booklets for videos on "How to Give a Presentation in a Job Interview" and "How to Open Up Your Interview Answers."
• Call to Action: Encourages viewers to subscribe to the newsletter and download the booklets.

The Iron Man Story: Why You Don't Have What You Want

Andy shares a personal story about his decision to train for an Ironman triathlon to illustrate why people often don't achieve their desired goals.

The Decision and Initial Obstacles

• Motivation: Seeking a new challenge beyond his regular exercise routine.
• Initial Assessment: Realized he couldn't swim 25 meters without difficulty and had no knowledge of breathing techniques.
• Time Commitment: Discovered training plans required an additional 13-14 hours per week, equivalent to two workdays.
• Seeking Expertise: Contacted a chiropractor who connected him with Robbie, a former US Postal cycling team member and Ironman coach.
• Commitment: Signed up for an Ironman race a year in advance, despite not knowing how to swim, believing the person who signed up wouldn't be the same person who completed it.

The Importance of Structure and Coaching

• The "Grind": Andy emphasizes that the glamorous idea of an Ironman (or owning a business, writing a book) often skips the difficult, silent, and self-doubting phases of hard work.
• Pre-Race Preparation:
  • Scheduling: Manufactured the necessary time in his schedule.
  • Support System: Added a physical therapist to manage potential aches and pains, acting as a preventative measure.
• The Coach's Role:
  • Systematic Approach: Robbie provided a structured training plan, detailing specific drills, conditioning, and consistency required.
  • Efficiency: This eliminated the need to waste mental energy figuring out what to do each day. Andy knew exactly what workouts to perform and how to execute them.
  • Progress: This structured approach led to rapid improvement in swimming form, speed, and endurance.

Applying the Lesson to Career Goals

• The Question: Andy prompts viewers to ask themselves: "What is your probable, if not absolute certain, future if you continue to do what you've always done?"
• The Need for a Coach/System: Just as he couldn't complete the Ironman alone, individuals need a coach or a system to achieve their career goals (job search, promotion, writing a book, starting a business).
• Job Searching: Emphasizes that job searching is often lonely and requires a system, not just emotional support from peers who may also be struggling.
• Skill Development: Highlights the importance of knowing what skills to build, how to build them, and when to practice them. Andy shares his own current skill-building focus: cold outreach to authors, coaches, and influencers for book reviews.
• Living the Goal: The goal isn't just the end result but living in sync with the process. One doesn't just call themselves an Ironman; they live it daily through consistent effort.
• Cost of Delay: Not having a structure or coach leads to stagnation and a longer, less certain path to success.

Connection: This story serves as a powerful analogy for the need for structured planning, expert guidance, and consistent effort in any significant endeavor, including career advancement.

Leadership Coaching Program Overview

Andy briefly introduces his revamped leadership coaching program, emphasizing its structure and benefits.

• Problem Addressed: Stagnation due to lack of a roadmap and structure.
• Solution: The program provides structure, playlists, coaching, and tools.
• Program Components:
  • Monthly meetings with leaders since March 2019.
  • Over 100 video lessons with accompanying workbooks.
  • Challenges designed for reflection and implementation.
  • Optional AI tools and exclusive small group bonus coaching.
• Learning Paths:
  • Zebra Code Career Track: A 13-14 month journey based on his best-selling book, offering lifetime access.
  • Core Membership: Annual recurring membership providing access to the leadership library and monthly group coaching sessions. New instruction for 2026 will focus on communication and influence.
  • Plus Membership: Includes everything in Core, plus extra group coaching and access to "Andy AI."
• Investment vs. Cost of Delay: Positions the program as a strategic investment for raises, promotions, and improved job performance, contrasting it with the significant cost of inaction.
• New Book Focus (2026): The upcoming year's curriculum will be based on his new book, covering topics like communication, influence, message construction, persuasion, and personal storytelling.
• Pricing:
  • Zebra Code Track: $249 (one-time, lifetime access).
  • Core Membership: $299/year (annual subscription).
  • Plus Membership: $399/year (includes Andy AI and extra coaching).
• Discounts: Available for those in the job search coaching program (email Cara).

Connection: This section directly follows the "Iron Man" story, offering a tangible solution and structured approach for individuals seeking to avoid stagnation and achieve their career aspirations.

Q&A and Skill Development

The session transitions to a Q&A, addressing specific viewer questions.

Identifying Skills to Build

• Sophia's Question: Difficulty identifying skills to add next.
  • Solution: Andy recommends his book, "The Zebra Code," which includes a skill-building plan. He also mentions that the leadership program's January lesson teaches a 10-step process to identify skills with the highest ROI.
• Amanda's Question: How to figure out which skills to work on.
  • Solution: Refers to "The Zebra Code," specifically Part 9, Chapter 20 ("Build Your Plan"), which details how to choose skills.
• Example (Copywriting): Andy uses his own experience with copywriting for his book testimonials. He identifies the need to improve outreach copywriting skills due to a specific deadline and publisher requirements.
• Example (Status Reports/Budget Meetings): Illustrates how to identify skill gaps by looking at current tasks (status reports) and future goals (budget meetings) and determining areas for improvement (documentation, delivery, persuasion, understanding motivations).
• Example (Video Production): Shares his personal journey of needing to learn video production skills for his mission, even though he didn't initially want to.
• Key Principle: Skills should be built based on their importance to achieving one's mission or goals, using real-life deliverables as practice grounds.

Tracking Career Wins

• Rukat's Problem: Difficulty remembering or tracking wins due to simply doing the job.
  • Solution: Andy mentions a past live show titled "Tracking Your Career Wins" and suggests Cara can provide the link. He emphasizes reflecting on accomplishments.

Interview Preparation

• Shantel's Question: What to do right before an interview.
  • Solution: Andy emphasizes the importance of a ritual (not just a routine) designed to elevate performance.
  • Ritual Components:
    • Empathy Reminders: Focusing on the audience's struggles and needs to intercept automated thinking and deliver a focused performance.
    • Outcome List: Before an interview, list the absolute best outcomes: meeting new people (networking), practicing communication skills, gaining feedback (even observational), understanding potential questions, and practicing follow-up (thank you notes).
    • Mindset Shift: View the interview as an opportunity to fill a need for the employer, sell solutions, and view it as a luxury or gift.
  • Argument: The universe reflects who you are. By wiring your mindset for success and opportunity, your results will change.
  • Gift: Shantel receives a $500 program (Job Search Challenge, Resume Writing, or LinkedIn Workshop) for her excellent question.

Making "Common Sense" Sound Sexy

• Peter Lee's Question: As a production support expert, how to make applying common sense and fixing simple problems sound appealing.
  • Problem: Undervaluing oneself by assuming common sense is universally applied.
  • Solution: Reframe experiences to focus on the value to others, not just personal knowledge.
  • Argument: The "sexiness" is in how your skills help someone else.
  • Example: Andy explains how he constantly seeks new ways to teach job searching, channeling his decades of experience into actionable advice for others.
  • Key Takeaway: Focus on being valuable rather than just "sexy." The CAR technique and the "Power of Your Personal Story" bonus in the job search program can help with this.

Job Hunting and Networking for Federal Employees

• Glenn's Question: As a 23-year IT federal employee, where to start job hunting and networking.
  • Free Resources: YouTube job search playlist and networking video series.
  • Paid Resources: "The Zebra Code" book for communication and networking lessons.
  • Skill Building: Emphasizes mindful execution of job search activities, focusing on the target audience and how one can transform their situation. This involves understanding the principles behind templates and sequences.

Adjusting Job Search Strategy

• Larry B.'s Question: Suggestions on adjusting positions if targeting isn't yielding good response rates.
  • Solution: Refers to a troubleshooting video in Session 5 of the Job Search Challenge.
  • Process:
    • Macro Level: Evaluate company segmentation, target companies, units, and bosses.
    • Micro Level: Assess cover messages for resonance and value proposition, and review resume highlights.
    • Methodology: Experiment with different outreach methods (email, LinkedIn).
  • Volume: Emphasizes the need for a significant volume of outreach (e.g., 60-70 messages) to identify patterns.
  • Analysis: Break down outreach by company type to identify what's working and what's not.

Job Market Outlook (2026)

• Linda's Question: Indicators for a shift in the job market in 2026.
  • Andy's Approach: Focus on industries and skills that are timeless and will never go away.
  • Timeless Examples: Communication (even with AI), human desire for speed and convenience (e.g., online ordering, quick appointments), and delicious food.
  • Identifying Opportunities: Look for industries that focus on these timeless needs.
  • Connections: Understand how different sectors and skill sets are interconnected.
  • Business Value: Focus on products/services that make businesses better or people happier.
  • Example (AI/Tech): While AI is advancing, communication skills remain vital. AI can assist with tasks like resume writing, but interviewing and communication skills are crucial.
  • Federal Employee Transition: Even federal employees with valuable skills can transition by understanding how their skills align with commercial, philanthropic, or think tank sectors. AI tools can assist in identifying these connections.

Connection: The Q&A section provides practical advice and reinforces the core themes of skill development, strategic planning, and effective communication, drawing upon the concepts introduced earlier.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Andy wraps up by reiterating the importance of structure and a support system for achieving goals. He encourages viewers to join his leadership program and highlights upcoming topics.

• Leadership Program: For those joining the Core or Plus membership, the "Zebra Code" is provided free as its lessons are integrated into the leadership library.
• Next Week's Topic: "Interviewing for Value, Not Your Skills."
• Call to Action: Subscribe to the newsletter for career advancement.
• Final Encouragement: Wishing viewers luck in their searches and reminding them to get on the newsletter list.