Travis Bradberry* says while some people are born interesting, anyone can learn to become interesting providing they work at it.
Interesting people have a special magnetism.
They tell incredible stories and lead unusual lives.
They’re curious more than anyone else.
An interesting person is always excited to explore the world, and this energy radiates outward.
Some people are naturally interesting, but there are also ways to learn to be more engaging.
Anyone can learn to become more interesting, which is a wonderful thing, because being interesting can help you strengthen your network 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 hypnotising.
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 Dr 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 interesting to be around.
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.
Instead, he still lives in the same modest house he bought in 1958.
It might seem quirky — or even strange — for such an incredibly wealthy man to live so frugally, but Mr Buffett doesn’t sacrifice his preferences because of what’s expected of him.
They avoid the bandwagon:
Nothing is more boring than following the bandwagon, and interesting people are intent on forging their own paths.
There’s often nothing wrong with what everyone else is doing; it’s just that interesting people are innovators.
They check their egos at the door:
An egomaniac is never interesting.
Egomaniacs are always posturing, always worrying about how they’ll come across.
It’s exhausting, and it’s also dishonest.
Take Oprah Winfrey, an interesting and interested person.
In a speech to the Stanford University graduating class of 2008, she said this:
“The trick is to learn to check your ego at the door and start checking your gut instead.
“Every right decision I’ve made has come from my gut, and every wrong decision I’ve ever made was a result of me not listening to the greater voice of myself.”
Ms Winfrey’s advice is so important.
Listen to your values, goals, and ambitions, rather than worrying about what will make you look good.
They’re always learning:
To interesting people, the world has infinite possibilities.
This curiosity leads to constant learning, fuelled by an ever-burning desire to discover the unknown.
Despite his intelligence and accomplishments, Albert Einstein (pictured) kept a sense of wonder throughout his life that made him continue to ask questions.
They share what they discover:
The only thing interesting people enjoy as much as learning is sharing their discoveries with others.
While some will spin engaging yarns about their exciting travels, there’s more to it than that.
Interesting people are interesting because they feel out their conversational partner to see what sparks that person’s interest.
They don’t share to expose all of the interesting things they’ve done; they share for other people to enjoy.
They don’t worry about what others think:
Nothing is more uninteresting than someone who holds their true self back because they’re afraid that other people might not like it.
Instead, interesting people are true to themselves wherever they are, whoever they’re with, and in whatever they’re doing.
Interesting people are authentic to a fault.
The famous English author, Charles Dickens personified this.
No matter where he was working — in a friend’s house or in a hotel — he would bring specific pens and objects and arrange them precisely.
While his behaviour may have seemed strange, he was always true to himself.
It might not always be easy to incorporate these habits into daily life, but that’s what makes the people who do so interesting.
They go against the grain, and that’s undeniably interesting.
While I know that you’re already interesting, never forget to keep exploring the world and staying true to yourself.
*Travis Bradberry is the co-founder of TalentSmart, a provider of emotional intelligence tests, emotional intelligence training, and emotional intelligence certification. He can be contacted at TalentSmart.com.
This article first appeared on the TalentSmart website.
