Should you advertise your success or not?

Early to bed, early to rise. Work like hell and advertise.
-- Ted Turner

I don't think Mr. Turner was being narcissistic when he urged people to advertise their hard work. I think he was being realistic. Let me put it in perspective. To advertise is to communicate, perhaps with some higher motive. That may vary from person to person but as a former boss myself, I'll tell you why you shouldn't keep quiet about your accomplishments.

1. Your boss's success depends on you. You don't want to deny him the opportunity to brag about success with his boss. In the same way you don't want to be denied of the right to brag about your child's success at school to your own parents.
2. Bosses are busy people. They need to be reminded that you're actually on the ball and earning your salary. You never know when his boss might be checking up on him up on these things.
3. If you have nothing worthwhile to report, then it could be said that what you're doing is not worthwhile. The latter can be detrimental to your career and keeping silent might just be the final nail in your coffin.
4. All things being equal, the person at the top of your boss's mind will get the cherry on the cake - be it promotions or whatever. Top of mind is influenced by advertising which I suspect is what Turner was trying to say. The same rules apply when you choose brand X detergent over brand Y in the supermarket.

If the thought of advertising your success is distasteful to you, then you've probably equated it to flaunting - the shameless self-promotion of some people at work. I don't deny it happens. However to suggest that all communication of success and failure at work be completely extinguished is unrealistic. Is there a middle ground?

I believe so. You'll notice that in my four points, I didn't mention anything about advertising your successes to your colleagues. That's because when you do your pitch, there should only be one person in the audience - your boss. If you conduct these update sessions in private, no one can say you bragged or boasted. If your boss likes it so much he mentions it in public, that's him blowing your trumpet, not you. But the moment you go to town with your own successes, banners and all, that's when the knives come out and your detractors try to cut you down a notch or two.

I always believe reality is what we make it to be and sincerity is our best companion in that journey. If your intention is just to give your boss a personal status update, then declaring your success is nothing to be ashamed about. Bosses understand that. They do it with their bosses. But if you use it to play a game of one-upmanship with your colleagues, then you will become a political target at work. When that happens even your boss might not be able to help you.