Most us react to meeting famous or important people we admire with a reaction somewhere between giddy elation and dumbfounded drooling. If you want to stand out from that crowd, offer something useful.
Picture: pinguino k
As tips blog Dumb Little Man points out, whether you’re meeting the CEO of your company or the star of your favourite TV show, the person you’re talking to is still a human. We frequently want to pick our idol’s brain (and assume we have scarce little time in which to do so), but if you really want to make a connection and be more than just another adoring fan, offer something that’s of use to them first:
Here’s a big difference between you and me, and a big name VIP or celebrity: a huge number of the people they meet will want to get something out of that person.
That would suck, right? You would be constantly on alert to the first sign of a person who wants to get something from you. As a result, VIPs tend to surround themselves with people who specifically do not ask for anything in return.
So flip that equation around. Offer something of value to a VIP, even if it’s something simple like a hotel recommendation, a restaurant tip, advice on a hobby they are interested in, or a suggestion of something to watch on TV.
Of course, in some cases, you may not be able to offer much, but even abstaining from squeezing all the info you can out of the VIP can go a long way towards appearing like a normal, sane individual. Check out Dumb Little Man’s post for more tips on how to keep a level head when meeting someone you admire.
Don’t Freak Out: How You Can Suppress Stress When Meeting VIPs You Admire [Dumb Little Man]
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