Be Unforgettable!

A few weeks ago, I read a blog post from my Leadership list on Twitter. I wish I had written down which individual it was who said it.

"Don't settle for being Memorable, when you could be Unforgettable."

Open Opportunity to Be UNFORGETTABLE!

I was inspired by it. So inspired that I printed it to post on my dormitory wall in a place that I see it every morning when I prepare for my day. The message for today is to always reach for being unforgettable. Make people remember you and think about you when they discuss topics you are associated with. Start with your friends and family, then spread out into your network slowly but steadily. Make it your mission that each person you touch in your day (or if you are very social, just 3-4 people each day) will remember your face and what the interaction looked like.

For example:  When a stranger on the street smiles and asks how you are doing, don't just say, "Fine. And yourself?" Instead, reach for being unforgettable by telling them something important to you! Say something like, "I am very excited that I am nearly finished with an important paper for a difficult class! How about you?"

You have extended a personal detail to instigate a personal and relatively trusting connection (for a stranger) and it causes them to realize that you actually listened to what they said to you. You gave a thoughtful and realistic response. Now, they may be more inclined to respond to you in a similar way. Even if your response is negative (such as "I am anxious today because I have a test to study for" or something worse like "Depressed because my dearest pet died."), you have still given a thoughtful response to an otherwise meaningful question. You have extended an invitation to open communication between yourself and the individual asking. This helps build your confidence, your social skills, and your network. You never know who you might meet on the street.

Be Inspirational!

A better example is if the person asking such a simple question is closer to you than a stranger, but not quite a friend. Your professor, a coworker, or someone you know and do not interact with regularly can all be examples of these people. Perhaps you explain your day in one sentence by saying, "I am great! I have an analysis to present for my company about how they can improve productivity and I am very confident about the outcome!" This is a great opener to a networking contact that may be mutually beneficial AND you have made yourself unforgettable. Here is why: if you smile and ask 25 people today how they are doing, most of them are going to respond with a generic and thoughtless answer such as:  fine, so-so, I don't know, tired, stressed, etc. Very few of them are going to think about the answer and tell you something truly important to their day. The individual who does so will remain at the front of your mind for some time after the interaction occurs.

So, don't be shy. Make someone remember you today. Here is a fun suggestion to twist the concept: say something so strange that they simply MUST ask you more questions. Example: "Hi, how are you today?" Respond:  "Oh, I am great. I am working on a project that will answer questions about human trafficking abroad and suggest a system to prevent it." Now, they have to ask more. Use something interesting and unique about yourself to spread the word about the work, volunteering, or passions you have that are very important to who you are. Make the 'interesting' twist something important to you. Here are some other examples:

"Terrible. The book I am writing about the human rights violations in Africa was refused by the publisher. I am seeking other sources."
"I'm doing great because a suggestion I made to the congressmen about improving special education programs received positive feedback!"
"I am confident that the political campaign I am working on will be successful by raising awareness about sexual abuse and how they intend to address the issue in the community."
"The history paper I wrote about the effect of independence on the Caribbean Islands is being published in the quarterly journal!"
"The equality  movement I initiated (or am a part of) has gained so much support that a leadership structure is being designed to continue the coalition's growth!"

Be positive and be confident. That person in the mirror has great potential; you just need to take advantage of it! "There you are! I am so glad I met you today!"

Photos:
http://www.zwani.com/graphics/whats_up/
http://deniseleeyohn.com/bites/2011/01/24/leadership-art/

Next time: Networking; Personal Growth and Meaningful Connections.