Two Questions

Let me ask you two questions.
How much talent does it take to be entertained? and
How much talent does it take to be entertaining?

I loved hearing these questions. They quite simply caught my attention and what ensued was a lengthy discussion about the difference of being entertained as opposed to being entertaining.

For the first question, the answer is simply none. It takes no talent to be entertained. You simply turn on a television, a computer, a video game, or even a cell phone. You can sit alone for hours on end being entertained by the smallest of ideas, whether you are enjoying what you are seeing or not.

The latest electronics will give you instant gratification. A text message, an email, the latest Facebook update or Twitter post and you know exactly what your friends and acquaintances are doing, even if you didn’t need to know.

For the second question, the answer is a lot. If you are entertaining, you are anxiously engaged in an event, an activity, a process, or even a conversation with a real person. To be entertaining you must be able to read your audience. It takes effort. It takes training. It takes TIME.

There's no such thing as instant networking. Even if you join a networking group, such as BNI, you will have to develop relationships with those in your chapter. If, in the first six months, you meet with each member of your chapter twice, you will just be getting started.

The more time, training and effort you put into your network, the return will grow exponentially.

So, are you waiting to be entertained or are you ready to become entertaining?