Some of the first advice I ever received in business + entrepreneurship was simply this: People do business with people they like. Duh, I remember thinking. Who doesn’t know that? But the longer I’ve been in business, the more I’ve seen that there are plenty of people who either don’t know this rule or choose to ignore it. But “likeable” can be hard to define, right? I mean, it’s not necessarily attached to a personality type. I have friends who are introverts and extroverts; super silly and more serious; easily excitable and more cautious with emotion… But plain and simple, despite some personality preferences, likeability is attached to kindness and comfortability. Basically, answer these two questions for yourself: After people encounter me, are they likely to be in a better mood or a worse mood? Does my presence put people at ease, or do I increase difficulty, annoyance, worry or stress? Now, I realize those questions can be difficult to answer, so let’s consider a few scenarios: The Grocery Store You’re walking into the store as someone else is walking out. Do you look them in the eyes, smile, and maybe even say hello? Or do you catch eye contact, only to immediately break away to find the sky, the floor [...]