How can I spot the good people when there are so many jealous, selfish, and fake ones?
Simple tactic to find good, worthwhile company.
This is part 5 of 5 of a series called “Why Relationships Matter.”
In case you missed it, here’s part 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Tune in next week for the start of a new 4-part series called “Finding My Own Path.”
I get it.
I don't need any fake people in my life who only want to take things from me either. I want to surround myself with down-to-earth, curious, kind, and giving people.
This quote sums up how I go about spotting those kinds of people:
If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.
- Sirius Black
Or similarly put:
It is the way one treats his inferiors more than the way he treats his equals which reveals one’s real character.
- Rev. Charles Bayard Miliken
I always notice how people treat waiters/servers, especially if they make a mistake. Same with janitors, delivery guys, and teenagers.
There are people who are amazingly warm, kind, and accommodating only when they want something from you, but the moment you're no longer "useful" to them, they'll treat you like you don't exist.
The good people you want in your life are the ones who treat everyone with the same level kindness and respect, regardless of whether they're a CEO of a billion dollar company or the janitor at a local gym. In essence, these people are the same inside and out whether or not people are watching.
When I was a teen, I naturally gravitated towards people who treated me like an individual as opposed to just another dumb teenager. It was easy to recognize these people because they were the only adults who took the time to get to know me even when I was, in retrospect, an ignorant and naive teenager.
When I became more "successful," I intentionally downplayed my accomplishments and experience whenever I met new people because there's a specific kind a person I'm trying to repel. Wearing my accomplishments like an overt badge would just invite more people who want a piece of me, but downplaying it would be a subtle invitation for the kind and intellectually curious souls.
If they are curious, I'm an open book, but if they don't ask, I don't need to flaunt or humblebrag about it. The ones who are curious about me even before I show my cards tend to be the ones who are legit.
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