The most intriguing man or woman in the room, may not be the individual that everyone has crowded around. Sure, that person encircled by the masses is probably getting all the attention because, maybe, they’re quite the little celebrity on a blog, podcast, or in a video, or perhaps they’ve written some books. They might have earned, or deserve this notoriety, or this attention. I find it amusing though, how sometimes when you go out of your way to speak to somebody who’s not engaged in conversation — the one who’s sitting quietly in the corner, working or eating, by themselves — you’ll often find that there’s more than meets the eye. They may have a lot more to offer you, and everyone else present. They’re just not the center of attention.
I encountered this situation several times over the weekend at an event I attended. I witnessed large groups of people flocking around particular individuals — the ones that had a wee bit of a spotlight on them. Hey, look, I’m not by any means saying that they didn’t earn this recognition, or that they don’t deserve to shine. They didn’t reach this level of accomplishment with luck; they got there with hard work. The attention was likely merited. But just because they’re the man or woman of the hour, doesn’t mean there isn’t someone else with just as much to offer.
While at this event, I committed myself to reach out more. I spoke to the person sitting alone, or the one going up the escalator by themselves, versus the person going up with ten other individuals. I think everyone has something to offer in this world, whether they draw attention or not. Some of the best conversations I had at this function were with people who probably don’t get introduced too often. I just thought it was interesting to me, and it was something I felt compelled to share.
Speak to the people standing outside the spotlight, and you’ll find a bright light, hidden inside, waiting to shine.