As soon as he started talking about himself…

I attended a party where one of the guests was intent on bragging about his latest exploits. I watched as he moved from group to group trying to get people to listen to his story. As soon as he started talking about himself, one by one, people in the group would excuse themselves and move on. He would then move on to another group only to have the same thing happen. By the end of the evening, he was standing by himself. The lesson here is a difficult one. While all of us want to tell our story, the painful truth is that no one wants to hear it. At the same time, those same people who don’t want to hear your story are dying to tell their story to someone who cares. So, if you want to be the life of the party, give up on the idea of trying to tell your story and give other people the opportunity to tell theirs. If you can discipline yourself to do this, you’ll quickly start to attract a crowd.

Suggested Reading

Repacking Your Bags: Lighten Your Load for the Good Life – Available from Amazon.com

Repacking Your Bags: Lighten Your Load for the Good Life by Richard J. Leider and David A. Shapiro

“Living in the place you belong, with the people you love, doing the right work, on purpose.” This is how Richard Leider and David Shapiro define “the good life.” Technological advances, economic shifts, and longer life spans mean most of us will need to repeatedly reimagine our lives. In this wise and practical guide, Leider and Shapiro help you weigh all that you’re carrying, leverage what helps you live well, and let go of those burdens that merely weigh you down.

This third edition has been thoroughly revised with new stories and practices to help you repack your four critical “bags” (place, relationship, work, and purpose); identify your gifts, passions, and values; and plan your journey, no matter where you are in life.