Why Genuine Interest in Others Makes All the Difference

I think it’s safe to say that we are all different. We come from different backgrounds. We speak different languages. We have different beliefs. We have difference senses of humor. We like different foods. We want to have different jobs. We have different ideas of love.
 
BUT…
 
I think, at the end of the day, we can all agree that we are the same. We all want to be loved. We all want to feel valued. We all feel good after being complimented. We are all trying to figure out the journey of life. We are all PEOPLE.
 
Once you fully understand that people are people and we all have the same basic wants, you can begin to understand why it is so important to show interest in other people. 

 People love to talk about themselves. Let them.
People like to hear their name. Remember it.
People feel good after a compliment. Do it.
People love to feel valued. Appreciate them.
People appreciate kindness. Give it.
People love to be seen. Smile at them.
People love to be heard. Listen to them.
 
Part of building a true connection with someone else is about how you make them feel. Do you leave them feeling better than when you first met them? Do you ask questions about their life? Do you think how you can add value to their life or just about how they might be useful for you?
 
If we know that we feel good when someone asks us about ourselves, remembers our name, or gives us a compliment, then why are we not constantly doing this for others? Why do we feel the need to wait for someone to do it for us?
 
I learned from a great speaker, Kyle Scheele, that it only takes one person to make you feel like you don’t matter and one person to make you feel that you do.
 
We put so much false pressure on ourselves to impress people or try to be liked. Guess what? The more you show genuine interest in other people, the more they will like you and want to be around you.
 
Dale Carnegie, in his book How to Win Friends and Influence People, says, “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”
 
DROP. THE. MIC.
 
Carnegie knew his stuff and this quote sums it all up. 
 
Here’s the craziest part of being genuine. It takes less that a minute. Let me show you.
 
You can smile at someone from across the street.
You can email an old colleague when they get a promotion and say congratulations.
You can call a barista by their name.
You can ask a crying person if they are okay.
You can text a random person in your phone and say hi.
You can call your family and tell them you love them.
 
Showing genuine interest in another person doesn’t have to be a grandiose act. You don’t need to call the cavalry or give someone a job to be genuine. You just have to make the choice to show interest in another person.
 
If you made it to this point in the article, I appreciate you. I want you to know that you are loved and that you are amazing!
 
I challenge you to do two things to spread this idea of showing genuine interest in others.

1. Share this article with your PEOPLE via social media, email, text, Harry Potter owls, word of mouth, etc..
2. Smile at the next person you see and give them a sincere compliment.​

Jake Kelfer is a bestselling author, high energy inspirational speaker and founder of the Professional Basketball Combine. He aims to inspire millions of people on their journey to achieving their own definition of success. His first book, Elevate Beyond, provides a framework for gaining an advantage in school, work and life. You can connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn or by emailing him at [email protected]. ​
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