but are you interesting?

I write weekly about the strategies, habits, and tactics around cultivating the connections that matter to you.

Let's chat about something that might make you squirm a little. I know this, because I’ve witnessed this story countless times, right round 7:15 PM.

Don’t worry, there’s a solution.

A consistent table question at my dinner series is some form of “so what’s interesting you lately?” I give very little guidance beyond that - just stating it doesn’t have to be associated with your LinkedIn profile or the above the fold on the Wall Street Journal.

There’s always someone who shrinks an inch or two when given this question, with the line, almost verbatim:

“Ugh, I don’t have anything really. All I do these days is work and take care of family.”

One of the essential tenets of cultivating relationships is going beyond any short term business need, and connecting as people. That requires opening the doors to your inner mind, beyond the corporate-crushing-it facade. If all you do is sound like yet-another-professional, you’re cutting off the handles to those doors.

Now, before you roll your eyes and think, "Great, another thing I need to be," hear me out.

Now, I'm not saying you need to become a standup comedian or a world-renowned expert on quantum physics (unless that's your thing, in which case, rock on!).

I'm talking about having genuine interests and - here's the kicker - being willing to share them.

I’d start with the latter.

Because even a person working a job and side-hustling their startup might be geeking out on lakes. And the person with three young kids is at least trying to get back to reading every presidential memoir - in order. They just don’t think it’s as exciting as the guy next to them that breeds designer snakes.

So, ask yourself these questions, and consider weaving them into your next conversation -

• What are you reading - or at least, what is book you’d gift the most?

• What is a strange YouTube hole you’ve gone down (come on, we all have….)?

• If you had a free day, and had all of your “needs” taken care of (no “catching up on sleep”) - what would you do?

There was a point a decade ago when I felt I was so boring that I actually sat down with a notepad and pen (Uniball Signo RT1, all the time) and came up with random hobbies I could start blocking time for in my busy day.

Fast forward to today, it’s hard for me to choose only one thing to share.

The difference? Realizing that what I was doing already was interesting.

Let me know what you come up with.

Until Next Week,

-Zvi

If you found this valuable, have you snagged my course on cultivating your network?

I’ve spent the past 12 years helping people like you grow their businesses and careers by cultivating the relationships that matter. I took everything I’ve learned and practiced and put it in a professionally produced online course.

You can grab it for free right now. ➡