Life of the Party

Here's an article with a fun edge about being the life of the party that I thought I'd share with you all this week... enjoy

“Being the Life of the Party and How to Become More Likeable”

Being the life of the party is not about behaving like Leona Hellmsley, who thought that she was the life and soul of every party, but ended at Sing Sing having a party in solitary.

Self-esteem is not the in-your-face kind but it is quietly the confident way in which you stride into a room and the way you address others. You are so confident about yourself that you do not need to impose your views on others and they will be drinking in what you have to say.

There is this “socializing coach” from Bernardston, Massachusetts who says that being the life of the party is not about hogging the spotlight but about “engaging others.” This gentleman goes on to say that being the life of the party can be a lonely life “because you have to be willing to do extreme stunts to create memorable moments revelers will recant to their children and their children’s children.” You remember Coco the clown or the old Charlie Chaplin movies; you still recall their antics to your children and your grandchildren. That is the way you will go down in history! I rest my case.

Let’s get down to the brass-tacks. These are some of things which you should not do ever.

• Do not go dressed like Batman or Catwoman. Wear well-tailored clothes that fit you like a second skin and you are hardly conscious of wearing them.
• Do not walk into the room blowing a didgeridoo. You will look like the most priceless ass.
• Do not walk up to people and look them in the eye unless you want a poke in the eye.
• Do not circulate, making compliments to every guest. You will be spotted for a phony right away.
• Do not talk about the current situation of health care or about Iraq to show off your knowledge. It’s passé.
• Do not flirt outrageously. Flirting is an art and unless you are good at it, lay off.
• Do not talk about your investments or your adventures on the NYSE.
• Do not attempt to introduce people to one another. One small mistake of introducing a woman to her husband could end up with an egg on your face.

This is what you do to be the life of the party.

• Be confident about yourself. Remember the Talmud injunction? It says that no one can make you feel small unless you allow them to do so.
• Cast that 1000 watt smile of yours and it should come well from within you. People can spot a false smile a mile away.
• The key is lies in being interested and be interesting. This is what Katherine Hepburn once told Christopher Reeves,” Be interesting, Christopher.”
• Finally like the poet Browning once said, “Best be yourself” and you will be far more interesting that way. Simple isn’t it?