When you’re being your true self, focusing on growth and learning, that’s when you can interest and inspire others the most. Photo: LEADx.
May Busch shares her experience of what began as a routine introduction that soon left her hanging off every word and anxious to find out more.
It was supposed to be just another introductory meeting, but when Mark told me his story, I found myself intrigued and anxious to find out more about him.
Mark was undeniably interesting – but why was he so interesting?
What was it that made him someone I gravitated towards and wanted to spend more time with?
These are the three things that stood out to me:
The importance of feeding your mind: When they were kids, Mark and his brother borrowed 25 books from the library every weekend.
I suspect this helped Mark develop the mindset that led him to a lifetime of interesting experiences and gave him a broad perspective.
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.
Feed your mind with things that are off-piste from what you usually read, watch or listen to. Explore different areas.
The value in sharing what you’ve learned: Mark shared the experiences that led him to his mission: Helping those like himself from less-privileged circumstances and giving them better life opportunities.
He expressed his journey and mission with such authenticity that I gained a new perspective and understood exactly who he was.
You have valuable observations and experiences too. Don’t be afraid to share something as simple as: “Hey, I just learned this really cool thing that can help us do …”
Share generously so others can benefit from a glimpse into a different part of the world. The key is to do so with the right intentions.
The power of pursuing what moves you: Mark is pursuing the things that interest him, even when it takes him off the conventional path.
It was refreshing and inspiring to hear from someone doing something different from me and pursuing it boldly.
When you do what you uniquely do, you free up the real you – and you inspire the people around you to do the same.
I encourage you to do what it is you want to do, even if it’s significantly different from your usual activities, whether that’s checking off an item on your bucket list or taking up a new hobby.
I plan to go cross-country skiing with my daughter next winter – a big departure from my usual (by the way, do you have recommendations for cross-country ski locations?).
We all can be even more interesting, and it’s not about putting on a performance. It’s not trying to sound smart. It’s not about following trends.
It’s about tapping into what makes you the person you are – and following what moves you.
When you’re being your true self, focusing on growth and learning, that’s when you can interest and inspire others the most.
Then, the types of people you want to be around will gravitate to you.
Which of the three things I have shared will you start doing or do more to become a more interesting person?
May Busch’s mission is to help leaders and their organisations achieve their full potential. She works with smart entrepreneurs and top managements to build their businesses. She can be contacted at [email protected].
This article first appeared on May’s blogsite.
