Be the Good Guy You Want in the World

Having decent manners can change your life. This is not hyperbole. People remember how you treat them. They remember that you showed empathy. They remember that you saw their existence and not their status. People remember how you make them feel. And once you start treating people well, you can get away with anything. The goal isn't to get away with unspeakable things. It isn't about manipulation. It's about how much slack people will cut you once they know you're a reliable person. Be genuinely good to people. Don't treat them poorly unless you have evidence they deserve it. You have to think from curiosity, not judgment. The distinction is crucial. We generally approach people with preexisting bias, not curiosity. Curiosity is more useful because it makes you listen carefully. You notice what brings a spark to their eyes. What bothers them. What makes them emotional. These are windows into their psyche. Curiosity tells you why a person appears the way they do. That's why some people…