Nixon so special. He's so good at making things interesting that he doesn't just teach accounting, he also gives lectures on how to be more interesting. Indeed, anyone can learn to become more interesting, which is a wonderful thing, because being interesting can help you strengthen your network, win more clients, and lead more effectively.
There are several habits that many interesting people have in common. Sometimes these habits form naturally, but they are more often than not the result of conscious effort. Here's what interesting people do to make themselves engaging, unusual, and hypnotizing.
They are passionate. Jane Goodall, a bona fide interesting person, left her home in England and moved to Tanzania at age 26 to begin studying chimpanzees. It became her life's work, and Goodall has devoted herself fully to her cause while inspiring many others to do the same. Interesting people don't just have interests; they have passions, and they devote themselves completely to them.
They try new things. Interesting people do what interests them. They know what they want and they're brave enough to take the steps to get there. This often means trying new things--things at which they're often terrible at first. The very act of seeking new experiences also happens to be great for your mood, and people who are happy are magnetic and far more interesting to be around than downers.
They don't hide their quirks. Interesting people often have unusual preferences that don't fit the norm. They're open and unabashed about who they are, which gives everyone a good look at these interesting tendencies. Billionaire Warren Buffett, for example, has never been suited to the high-rolling lifestyle. It might seem quirky--or even strange--for such an incredibly wealthy man to live so frugally, but Buffett doesn't sacrifice his preferences because of what's expected of him.
They avoid the bandwagon. Click To Tweet. Both in terms of the areas you know about and the sources of your knowledge. In an age of technical specialization, this is more important than ever. At work, success often requires knowing a lot about a narrow slice of the world. For example, coding, electronic trading, or tax regulations. Even to the people in your own field. Having a broader perspective is at the heart of creativity, critical thinking, and curiosity — all 21 st century skills that are essential to success in life and at work.
When you travel in multiple circles, you have the chance to pass on new ideas and cross-pollinate and enhance the way others think.
Another element of being interesting is showing up in a way that shows people what makes you uniquely you. Rowling who leaned into what she uniquely does — storytelling — and has fascinated us all. As her quote suggests, no one could make her do it, and no one could have stopped her from doing it. When you do what you uniquely do, you become unstoppable. Most of us struggle to show our whole selves, so we respect those who are brave enough to actually do it.
It takes courage to let go of societal norms and lean into who we really are. But unshackled is the only state when we do our best work and fulfill our true potential. The key is not trying to replicate what others do. The third aspect is how you engage people.
Are you making a personal connection? Are you genuinely interested in the other person? And how do you go about sharing what you know? At a recent dinner, two people who are equally interesting on paper showed up entirely differently. They had similar backgrounds — scientists from disadvantaged neighborhoods who overcame hardship to rise to the top of their fields.
He brought up new ideas. The other person said very little. But the other one is still a mystery. When it comes to connecting with others, it starts with sharing what you know. Think of that as contributing.
Bringing in ideas from another field that helps people do what they do better and get a new way of looking at things. Wonderful, actionable advice that helps me be better than the day before. Feed your mind with things that are off-piste from what you usually read, watch or listen to.
Explore different areas. Seeing the world from only one point of view might feel more comfortable. But it can limit your possibilities and reduce your ability to think critically. And make you less interesting. If you need ideas for what to read, check out this list of almost books that thought leader, bestselling author, and blogger Seth Godin has recommended over a decade of reading. As they say, you really learn something when you have to teach it. If you read a great book, extract quotes from it and work it into conversations.
Write about it in a blog or article. Or leave the book on your desk for your visitors to notice and enjoy. Simply share so others can benefit from a glimpse into a different part of the world.
And if it takes you outside of your comfort zone , even better. When you do what you uniquely do, you free up the real you.
And that feels great! Changing things up will give you new insights and something different and interesting to talk about. The opposite of interesting is boring. And the surest way to be boring is having the same conversation or interaction over and over again.
The friend who keeps banging on about the same topic. Leave a comment below to let me know what you will do to be even more interesting than you already are. Thank you, May, for your most interesting share! Craig N. I love learning from others who demonstrate their interest in learning and sharing about being a blessing to others.
When I meet new people, I actively listen and try to share a snippet or connection that meets a need they are expressing. Thanks for sharing these observations, Tayo.
I also appreciate people who are interested in learning and sharing. Your approach to meeting new people is wonderful. So think about the unusual experiences you've already had.
Maybe you've lived in a foreign country; maybe you sell art projects as a side gig; maybe you grew up with 10 siblings. There's definitely something, so keep digging. Interesting people unleash their inner weirdness. Dressing, speaking, and acting like everyone else can be kind of boring — we're not in junior high school anymore. So let your freak flag fly, and do it with confidence.
Danielle Lan shares a personal story , the moral of which is that no one will know how interesting you are unless you tell them:. He's really a very fascinating man, with all his quirks and hobbies. The problem is he never shares with his coworkers or acquaintances.
In fact he probably took part in a huge raid in his favorite MMO [massively multiplayer online game] before watching a new movie and finishing an interesting book. But he won't share that with just anyone. That also means you have to have things to share. It's a rare person who literally does absolutely nothing and has absolutely no opinion on any given topic.
My advice is to open up. Indeed, research suggests that people like each other better when they each share something personal, as opposed to when only one person does. Perhaps the real reason you don't feel interesting is because you're spending time with people who don't appreciate you. In that case, you should find a different community who understands how much you have to offer. Writes Travis Biziorek: "Challenge yourself to meet new people, hang out with a different crowd, and experience people with different outlooks and views on life.
I promise you'll find people that interest you and those that find you fascinating. For you. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options. Get the Insider App. Click here to learn more. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. Good Subscriber Account active since Shortcuts. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. It often indicates a user profile. Log out. US Markets Loading H M S In the news.
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