How to Be Interesting
I've often been accused of leading an interesting life because I follow the road less traveled. I don't do it for the novelty or even for the honor of eccentricity. It's just me, odd since birth.
There are other ways to be interesting. People who read widely are interesting. People who write are notoriously fascinating though often inherently reclusive.
Those with special talents, or those who travel are interesting. I can listen to them for hours.
But the real secret to being interesting is far simpler. Dale Carnegie said it best with: “To be interesting, be interested.”
We, as a society are smitten with ourselves. We're everywhere with selfies, emailing photos of our 'junk', and sharing things on Facebook that I wouldn't tell a priest.
It's too much, especially for (very) public consumption. I think this is why so many people come across as monotonous, or at least boorish.
It's even worse for people in business. Social media feeds us a daily diet of self-absorbed crapola and calls it networking. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Networking in its purest form is about what you can offer, not take. It's an organic form of communication with no obligation to trade tit for tat.
In a recent post, Barbara Wright asked in a comment: How do you tell a guest they must be interesting?
You can't go wrong with Dale Carnegie's advice above.
My tips:
• Ask for a proposal and then approve (or decline) the post idea. It's your blog. You call the shots. If the post turns out boring, you become the cheese for allowing it to appear. If it's awesome, you shine for having such good taste in guests.
• Offer your guest blogger a specific topic if they can't come up with a good one on their own. Who knows your readers better than you?
• Never, ever allow them to monopolize your blog with an advertisement. Hand-waving used to be the norm, but it's fallen out of favor. You can talk about a book without resorting to cheer leading...unless of course your book is about cheer leading.
My number one rule is is to always put my readers' interests first. They're the reason this blog exists.
Who's the most interesting person you've known? What made them interesting?
There are other ways to be interesting. People who read widely are interesting. People who write are notoriously fascinating though often inherently reclusive.
Those with special talents, or those who travel are interesting. I can listen to them for hours.
But the real secret to being interesting is far simpler. Dale Carnegie said it best with: “To be interesting, be interested.”
We, as a society are smitten with ourselves. We're everywhere with selfies, emailing photos of our 'junk', and sharing things on Facebook that I wouldn't tell a priest.
It's too much, especially for (very) public consumption. I think this is why so many people come across as monotonous, or at least boorish.
It's even worse for people in business. Social media feeds us a daily diet of self-absorbed crapola and calls it networking. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Networking in its purest form is about what you can offer, not take. It's an organic form of communication with no obligation to trade tit for tat.
In a recent post, Barbara Wright asked in a comment: How do you tell a guest they must be interesting?
You can't go wrong with Dale Carnegie's advice above.
My tips:
• Ask for a proposal and then approve (or decline) the post idea. It's your blog. You call the shots. If the post turns out boring, you become the cheese for allowing it to appear. If it's awesome, you shine for having such good taste in guests.
• Offer your guest blogger a specific topic if they can't come up with a good one on their own. Who knows your readers better than you?
• Never, ever allow them to monopolize your blog with an advertisement. Hand-waving used to be the norm, but it's fallen out of favor. You can talk about a book without resorting to cheer leading...unless of course your book is about cheer leading.
My number one rule is is to always put my readers' interests first. They're the reason this blog exists.
Who's the most interesting person you've known? What made them interesting?
Comments
I'm not sure who the most interesting person is I know. That question is going to bug me the rest of the day.
The most exciting writers I know impress me more with their knowledge of the world at large than anything else.
I guess I'm saying I like their brains. LOL!
Re: interesting person
There can't be just one. Sometimes I wonder who I'd invite to a fantasy dinner party if time and distance were not a problem. Think how lively the conversation would be.
Besides, you have dogs. That makes you automatically interesting. :)
Disgusting, but true. I hated him, yet I admired him. I don't know how else to explain it.
Storytelling, the advertising gurus' new word.
I'd say that as consumers, we now want the stories to be about us, and that involves the storyteller listening.
It's like in the old face-to-face storytelling. Details would be refined on the spot as the storyteller assessed their audience's reaction. You gotta listen.
You're right, as always, Maria :)
The only thing that defeats that is when he's unable to articulate his experiences.
I'm quiet in real life. I prefer to listen rather than talk, so people "think" I'm interesting because I listen to them. :)
The only way I could reach the revered spot on her pedestal was to be twice as smart as the favored boys.
I wasn't in competition with her so she didn't begrudge my presence.
Re: It's like in the old face-to-face storytelling. Details would be refined on the spot as the storyteller assessed their audience's reaction. You gotta listen.
This is so true. Every great comedian and preacher knows this too. You gotta pay attention to your audience.