I used to end every cover letter I sent out for a new job with a quote attributed to baseball player Dizzy Dean: “It ain’t braggin’ if you can do it.” Cocky? Yes. But also a very effective way of ending a cover letter and getting yourself noticed.

I understand. No one likes a braggart. But if you want to advance in your career, increase sales and improve your business, it is important to find a balance between being confident and being humble. If you are at either extreme, things are out of balance.

I find that in this industry, most of us tend to gravitate toward the more humble side of the equation. Blame it on our Midwest upbringing. Many companies in this industry are based in places like Michigan, Indiana and Iowa, places that skew toward humility. Our shared humility helps in some ways. Companies don’t make more out of what they do than is deserved. We tend to under promise and over perform. We don’t take a lot of credit for what we do well.

In most cases, being humble is appreciated. People generally don’t like individuals or companies that are blowhards. We don’t like people with an overinflated opinion of themselves. We don’t like companies who act as if their products and services are so good that we can’t live without them. We also don’t like self-deprecating comments or the false humility of a humblebrag.

Still, our industry should take credit where credit is due. We are workplace experts and understand the office better than anyone else. So why aren’t we featured in more mainstream media publications as experts on the office or workplace issues? We get how to create healthy and productive spaces. So why don’t we push this with our customers?

There’s a way for us to tout our wins and successes in a way that’s gracious and effective and helpful without being overly self aggrandizing. It starts by stating the facts as you know them. If you are a manufacturer, for example, and believe you have the best office chair in the world, make sure your customers know and challenge them to find something better. If you design world-class workplaces, make sure your customers understand and appreciate that. Back to Dizzy Dean: That’s not bragging. That’s proving your value.

To find a balance between bragging and being humble, focus on acknowledging your achievements while also crediting others, highlighting the effort involved, and avoiding boastful language that comes across as arrogant; essentially, share your successes with a genuine sense of gratitude and without putting others down.

There are times when bragging is merited. If you are in a job interview, the point is to try to convince the recruiter that you are a better candidate than the others up for the position. If you negotiating a pay raise, you need to make a case for yourself and show your employer why you are a valuable part of the team.

There are also times to take a humble approach. If your company messes up, the worst thing it can do is try to hide the problem or shift the blame. When a mistake is made, own up to it, make it right and do it with humility.

If you need a little confidence boost, here it is: What you do matters. What this industry creates profoundly affects people’s lives. Products that this industry sells are well-designed, beautiful and impactful. We are making a difference.

Now get out there and let the rest of the world know.