Be the Most Interested in the Room, Not the Most Interesting
Nov 03, 2025
We've all felt it: that subtle pressure to stand out. To make an impression. To prove we belong in the room.
When you're building a business or personal brand, it's easy to believe success depends on being the most interesting person there. The one with the clever story, the big personality, or the attention-grabbing content.
But here's the truth: your customers don't want to be impressed. They want to be understood.
The Real Secret to Connection
You don't make friends by talking about yourself. You make friends by showing genuine curiosity about them.
Business works the same way.
The entrepreneurs who win aren't the loudest or flashiest. They're the ones who listen deeply, ask better questions, and make others feel seen.
People don't buy from the most interesting entrepreneur in the room. They buy from the one who's most interested in their needs, frustrations, and dreams.
Try This in Your Next Conversation
Next time you're in a meeting, networking event, or sales call, skip the small talk about yourself and ask:
โ "Tell me more about what's been holding you back."
โ "What would success look like for you?"
โ "Why is this important to you right now?"
Then listen like it matters. Because it does.
That's how Nice Guys win in business. Not by being in the spotlight, but by putting others in it.
Your Turn
Take five minutes today to reach out to a customer, client, or connection. Not to tell them what you're doing. But to ask what they're working on, and how you can help.
Because when you're the most interested person in the room, you'll never struggle to find people who are interested in you.
This article first appeared in my LinkedIn newsletter, Approachable Entrepreneurship.
Want to get really good at being interested?
Curiosity is the heart of the N.I.C.E. method. How to Sell When You Hate to Sell shows you which questions put the other person in the spotlight, and how to guide the conversation from there without it ever feeling like a pitch.
Keep reading: Don't Be D.U.M.B. (Don't Understand My Business)
Want the whole framework?
How to Sell When You Hate to Sell walks through the N.I.C.E. Sales Method step by step, so you can have the conversations your business needs without pretending to be someone you're not.
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