I like going to the beach and walking up and down as if I were actually looking for someone. Looking lost.
I always think this might work to get people to talk to me.
"Who are you looking for?"
"Oh, I answered an ad on craigslist and this beautiful girl is supposed to meet me here."
"Do you think she's coming?"
"No, I think I've been stood up."
It's a sad story so the person immediately takes me with them where ever they are going and so I meet new people and maybe gain a friend.
It hasn't worked yet, but maybe one day it will create an opportunity.
--
Another thing I do is say to people looking down, "if you find a million dollars it's mine. I dropped it a little while ago and I haven't found it."
They usually chuckle.
Everyone knows that if you were walking down the street (or beach) and found a million dollars, you wouldn't look for the owner.
I'd like to think I would.
Albeit, it would be a rather feeble attempt.
--
I talk to everyone. Or try.
Yes, painfully shy me goes out of his way to be what's called "friendly".
If I don't actually say hello to someone I'll at least smile and nod.
And if they are in the middle of an activity, say, people watching, I'll try and get in on it too.
"What'cha looking at?"
Why not?
Meet people, have fun.
I love to goof off anyhow.
Admittedly it's a way to humor myself. But it's also a way I look for Open Doors and Opportunity.
Never know who you might meet or what you might learn. And sometimes things can turn interesting if you're a little outgoing.
--
I was in a bar in Nashville and this guy came and sat down beside.
We struck up a conversation. I just happened to know a little about everything he was talking about.
One of the things he mentioned was the element tantalum. It's rare and needed to make a lot of things.
Interestingly this led to the conversation "what do you do?"
"I just sold my consulting company"
"Oh that's interesting."
KPMG bought it he said - and he was a newly minted billionaire. (Wish I were smarter and kept his phone number - life - back then I wasn't so much into Open Doors and Opportunity as I was just having a good time.)
--
Most people want to put their best foot forward.
It's not a bad thing to do.
"You only have one shot at a good first impression".
That is true.
We all want to make ourselves look better. Be respected.
I am just 'me'.
I tend to think that the initial lie you tell someone - that's the best foot forward.
Every lie you tell from there on stems from that first one.
--
I was recently asked, "how do you pay rent?"
My answer could have been a million things.
"I have a trust fund with millions of dollars."
"I own the property free and clear and don't have rent."
"I don't pay rent because I sleep in my truck" probably wasn't the first thing the person thought I would answer with.
That is clearly not putting your best foot forward.
That's giving someone an impression of you that is neither flattering or paints a full picture.
Maybe that's why they took a step back.
But it was honest.
And being honest felt good.
I grew up around a thousand mask.
With my parents it was "use this mask here, that mask there, this and that mask over there and the other place."
I'm not here to necessarily impress someone. I'm here to be real with people.
And hopefully they will appreciate the fact I am that way by returning the favor.
--
One of my favorite episodes of Seinfeld is "Opposite George".
This is the one where the character takes every rational thought he ever had and does the opposite because nothing in his life has worked out like he thought it would.
I get it.
Maybe it was the inspiration to take the radical turn to begin with. Be more honest.
People have a hard time with my personality - happy, jovial, unconcerned.
50/50
I have moments, just like anyone. In fact, I should be more than a little stressed today.
Right this moment.
But I know it doesn't help. Worry. Stress.
It only causes my body to do crazy things.
So, I choose to do the opposite (such as it is within my power).
--
So why not be a little more real? A little more true to who you are.
Forget putting the best foot forward and starting off a new relationship on a lie.
Just be real and answer questions with a brutal honestly.
If they don't like it - that's them, not you.
And that's okay. Move on.
Honesty creates a kind of Open Doors and Opportunity that otherwise may not open for you.
Because people will eventually 'find out' whatever it is you're hiding or whatever untruth you're telling. That's the path to closed doors and no opportunity.
Be true to yourself by being more real with others. You'll stand out from the crowd and people will remember you for it.
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