Interesting people 7 things they all have in common

Interesting people 7 things they all have in commonInteresting people 7 things they all have in commonIve written about a lot of research from experts ongetting people to like you, beinginfluential andhaving great conversations.Whats the best way to use all this information to be more interesting?1) Dont be boringSometimes the best offense is a good defense. Look at it like the Hippocratic Oath of conversationsDo no harm.Were all terrible at realizing when we bore others because, well, we all think were just fascinating.The 1 tip for never boring anyone comes fromScott AdamsBe brief, be positive.If youre always to the point and stay upbeat, its extremely hard for anyone to accuse you of being poor company.But sometimes you do need to speak a little longer to make sure things dont get stilted.The Art of Civilized Conversationoffers another good tipIs anyone asking you questions about what youre saying?If not, maybe its time to end the story or ask the other rolle a question.(More rapp ort building techniques arehere.)2) The most captivating people are often good listenersImpressing people can be great but it can also devolve into status jockeying, one-upmanship and envy.People love to talk about themselves and there are a dearth of good listeners.Let the other partie talk.Itgives their brain as much pleasure as food or moneyTalking about ourselves- whether in a personal conversation or through social media sites like Facebook and Twitter- triggers the same sensation of pleasure in the brain as food or moneyYou can make an excellent impression by saying amazingly little.Ironically, the people we like the most often say the least.(Learn how to listen like a hostage negotiatorhere.)3) Talk about the other persons interestsThis is straight fromDale Carnegieand if youre not that socially adept, this is as straightforward as it gets.Why struggle to guess what most peoplemightfind generically interesting?Ask people what theyve been up to or what their hobbies are. Then talk about that.Youre now 80% of the way there.If you know about the subjectthe similarity will bond you.If you dont, ask them to explain and bea great listeneras they talk about something they love.(More on the science behind Dale Carnegies classichere.)4) Have three good storiesComedians dont just talk aboutanything when theyre onstage. They have their act rehearsed.You dont just trot intoa job interviewand say whatevers on your mind.Always have three good stories on hand that reliably entertain, inform or engage.Another tip fromScott AdamsPeople are generally more interested in stories about people rather than things.Drama, gossip and reality TV are successful for a reason. We all find human behavior fascinating.On the other hand, most people dont want to hear about the features on your new iPhone.(More on how to tell good storieshere.)5) Dont forget charismaIts not all about the words. Some people are engaging but if what they said was transcribed, it would be unimpressive.When youre speaking emotionally, the words only account for 7% of what get conveyed. Seven percent.Voice tone and body language are far more important.ViaThe Heart of Social Psychology A Backstage View of a Passionate ScienceOne often quoted study (Mehrabian Ferris, 1967) found thatof all the information conveyed to another person when we say something that is emotional (not informational), only 7 percent is contained in the actual meaning of the words we use.Laugh. Smile.Be passionate. Gesture. Modulate your voice. Dont just sweat the words.(Heres how to becharismatic.)6) Be somewhere interestingGot a say in where youll be at, as with a date or meeting?Pick someplace stimulating.Context matters.In general,were lousy about realizing where our feelings are coming from.Research showsexcitement from any source is often associated with the person youre with - even if theyre not the cause of it.Why do people find musicians so captivating? The music and the crowd stimulates emotions - and w e viscerally associate those with the band.MIT Behavioral EconomistDan Arielyrecountsa relevant study he didWhy does this happen? Ariely thinks it might have something to do with misattribution of emotions Sometimes we have an emotion and we dont know where its coming from, so we kind of stick it on something that seems sensible. In other words, your strong feelings about the music might make you think youre having strong feelings about the lead singer.(More on the power of contexthere.)7) Live an interesting lifeRemember the theme ofDon QuixoteIf you want to be a knight, act like a knight.If you dont read, watch and think about generic things, generic things are less likely to come out of your mouth.This doesnt need to be expensive or difficult.Hang out more often with the most interesting people you know.The friends you spend time withdramatically affect your behavior- whether you like it or not.The Longevity Project, which studied over 1000 people from youth to death had this to sayThe groups you associate with often determine the type of person you become.InThe Start-up of You, Reid Hoffman and Ben Casnocha talk abouthow the best way to improve particular qualities in yourself is to spend time with people who are already like that.The best and most reliable way to appear interesting is to live an interesting life.And to pursue that ends up being far more rewarding than merely making a good impression on others.Join 315,000 readers.Get a free weekly update via emailhere.Related posts8 Things The Worlds Most Successful People All Have In CommonWhat 10 things should you do every day to improve your life?How To Make Your Life Better By Sending Five Simple EmailsThis column first appeared at Barking Up the Wrong Tree.

Enlarging Text on Websites That Use Small Text

Enlarging Text on Websites That Use Small TextEnlarging Text on Websites That Use Small TextDespite the advances in modern computer technology, there is a common complaint among young and old alike, and that is the dreaded website with text that too small to comfortably read or, worse yet, impossible to read. Especially for the sight impaired it is quite disturbing to see an alarming trend in the number of website pages that open and display text that is too small for the human eye to read, even with the aid of glasses. And this doesnt apply to that age-old dreaded fine print you see in disclaimers, terms, and privacy policies. You have come to expect that, especially from businesses that dont want you to know that theres a 20% re-stocking fee should you decide to return those shoes that looked better online. The bigger problem is the actual content, and even sidebar links displayed on websites that you either want to read or need to read. You Cant Fight City nachhall Even some government agencies (including the IRS) have begun to incorporate tiny, unreadable text into their websites. You may find this particularly curious because it is these very federal and state governments that regulate and enforce the Americans with Disabilities Act and advocate for accessibility. But, as the saying goes You cant fight City Hall. Instead of fighting City Hall its best to take matters into your own hands. Unless you are severely vision impaired it is quite easy to enlarge (or reduce) text to make it more readable on your computer screen. The best part is you dont have to spend the time or money to purchase or download special software. Microsoft Internet Explorer (All Versions) If you encounter a website with small text using Internet Explorer use the drop-down menu in your taskbar to select the following options to increase or decrease the fonts appearance View Text Size Largest, Larger, Medium, Smaller, Smallest Mozilla Firefox and Netscape 6.2, 7.0 and 8.1 The following steps will help you enlarge or reduce the appearance of text on a web page viewed in Firefox or Netscape. Begin by opening the browser window to the page you want to either view in larger textor make the text smaller. To Enlarge Text Press and hold down the control (Ctrl) key on your keyboard and then press the plus () key. Repeat Ctrl untilthe text reaches the fruchtwein comfortable size for you.To Reduce Text Size Press and hold down the control (Ctrl) key on your keyboard and then press the minus (-) key. Repeat Ctrl - until the text is the desired size tofit yourviewing screen. Apple Safari (All Versions) Use the following steps to enlarge or reduce the appearance of text on a web page in Apple Safari. Begin by opening the browser window to the page you want to either view in larger text or make the text smaller. To Enlarge Text Press and hold down the Apple key on your keyboard and then press the plus () key. Keep repeating this process until you can easily and comfortably read all of the text.To Reduce Text Size Press and hold down the Apple key on your keyboard and then press the minus (-) key. Keep repeating this process until the text is the most viewing size for you and fits within your monitor screen. There is only caveat to fixing this annoying and often troublesome computer situation. You will not be able to do these steps on a mobile device because of the lack of the control tab. However, given the speed at which technology is advancing, it wont be long before this IT issue is resolved.

5 new books Im reading to boost my career and life this fall

5 new books Im reading to boost my career and life this fall5 new books Im reading to boost my career and life this fallYou know Im a book-lover, but this past summer I havent been able to read too many new books because Ive beenwriting my own So this fall I have some catching up to do The good news is, there are so many great new career books out Ive got quite the reading list on my nightstand already.herbeie are 5 books on my must-read list this fallSome are by gal pals like Maxie McCoy, favorite authors like Brene Brown, and some are delightful new finds. I hope youll join me as I devour these books, page-by-page. And I welcome your recommendations on books youve been loving lately, tooWell That Escalated Quickly by Franchesca RamseyIve been following Franchesca ever since her viral Sh-t Girls White Girls Say to Black Girls video took the internet by storm. This book her very first is in many ways the story of what happened since then. Her subtitle sums it up bestMemoirs and Mi stakes of An Accidental Activist.Im excited to hear Franchescas perspective on call-out culture and sharing your voice on the Internet. This topic hits home, especially as Im pushing myself to be more vocal about my politics and personal life online.Youre Not Lost by Maxie McCoyMaxie and I go back to Bossed Ups very beginning. Odds are, youve heardher recent interviewandboss tipon theBossed Up podcast, too. Her book is really for people who find themselves at an inflection point or proverbial fork in the road.As Ive evolved my business over the years, there are plenty of months when Im struggling to find my way. Im excited to hear how Maxie guides readers like me through that fog and into the light.Work Party by Jaclyn JohnsonTo be honest, I dont know Jaclyn Johnson well at all. But its hard to miss what a major player shes become in the womens conference scene. Her company,Create Cultivate, took the conference circuit by storm with celebrity-laden, made-for-Instagram events that t ake millennial pink to a whole new level.I wanna hear the backstory and learn what motivates this media maven, which is what her book is all about.A Year Off by Alexandra and David BrownInour recent community survey, you inspired me to think more about how travel fits into the Bossed Up lifestyle. Having taken my first trip out of the country in 10 years () toColombia with my motherthis past March, I know exactly how profound taking time off can be. And like so many of you, I want a helluva lot more of it.Thats why this new book about a couple who quit their jobs, walked away from their day-to-day lives, and traveled for an entire year together is SO intriguing to me First tipped off by the fabulously talentedAnn Shen on Instagram, I was delighted to discover a new book thats one part travel guide, one part travel essays and photos, and one part memoir. It covers the practical how-tos on how to fund a year of travel, as well as telling the story of how these two people who only knew each other for a few months decided to make this daring move together.Dare to Lead by Brene BrownIs it me or is Brene Brown like a modern day fairy godmother? Shes so wise and comforting, and yet she challenges us to evolve and grow all at the same time. I just love her.As such, her previous books are always on my round-up reading lists (especiallyDaring GreatlyandThe Gifts of Imperfection, which I can say without exaggerating they changed my life). But Im especially thrilled to binnensee shes finally wading directly into the world of leadership and culture change thats my jamIn the era of leadership we find ourselves in now, we could all use a few lessons from this real-talkin Texan. I cant wait to hear her take on the issues I find myself thinking about a lot culture change, leading with courage, and creating organizations where all people can thrive.Whats on your reading list this fall?Id love to hear from you in the comments below. What books do you recommend I add to my list? Do you want to read along with me? If so, perhaps I can do some Insta lives later this quarter talking through my reviews of these rad reads. Let me know what you think in the comments below Disclaimer Im excited to read all the books detailed here, which is why Im recommending them. That said, some of the offers above also include Amazon affiliate links, which means at no cost to you, I may earn money when you click through to make purchase.This article first appeared onBossed Up.