Page 81 - Benjamin Franklin\'s The Way to Wealth: A 52 brilliant ideas interpretation - PDFDrive.com

36 THE KIND OF CREDIT THAT DOESN’T COME

WITH APRS

Your chief job is marketing the brand that is you. But what if someone else is reaping
the benefit of your branding efforts? ‘Trusting too much to others’ care is the ruin of
many,’ as Franklin put it—and in this case trusting others to give you your due could
be the ruin of your brand.

DEFINING IDEA…
PLAGIARIZE, v. To take the thought or style of another writer whom
one has never, never read.
~ AMBROSE BIERCE, THE DEVIL’S DICTIONARY

In the world of brands there is such a thing as ‘ambush marketing’ in
which one brand relies on the equity built up by another, then steals its
thunder. A classic example is the major sporting event where one shoe
brand sponsors the whole shebang, only for its rival to park a truck right
outside with a vast, unmissable LED screen showing its own adverts. In the
business of me-branding the ambush comes when a colleague coolly claims
credit for the fruits of your labour.

Since this is your brand at stake here, you can’t take that sitting down—but
nor do you want to appear too precious and whiny about the issue.
Somehow you need to come out on top and smelling of roses, which can
be tricky if the person claiming your credit happens to be your boss.

The first thing to consider is Franklin’s own warning that trouble comes
from trusting too much to the care of others. Undoubtedly praise from
others carries more weight than blowing your own trumpet, but it is your
job to ensure that you are getting noticed by other people. If someone else
is getting credit you have to ask yourself whether you are being deliberately
pushed out of praise’s way or whether you have been too backward in
coming forward.

• Has someone knowingly taken credit for your work or is it a misunderstanding?

Before you even think of mentioning your grievance consider the following: