I couldn’t agree more with the attitude in point 1, “Anybody can be somebody”. I remember thinking this vividily when the founders (and the rest of the team) of the nyc tech company I interned at went out for our monthly social outing. They were wearing casual clothes and as you said looked totally “average”, yet were founders of a very successful company and people that any person would be lucky to chat with and meet.

One of my philosophies that I try to live by that I think ties into your point is that if I am ever on the edge of saying hello to someone or saying a complement that I’m thinking I always do it. Any time I don’t I regret it. One example that sticks out to me most is the summer after my freshman year when I was working at a Commerical Real estate firm in philly (where I also lived in a house with my friends). I woke up Sunday and went to the nicer part of the city to do some shopping and walk around. I passed someone that was wearing a vanderbilt t-shirt (where I go to school), and standing by my philosiphy to always say hello if I have an urge. I stopped him and introduced myself, told him I’m a rising sophomore at Vandy, and asked if he was an alumni. It turns out he was. He was dressed very casually and was a bit reserved and soft spoken, so I had to lead the conversation a bit, but we had a very pleasent 10–15 minute conversation and parted ways. Literally, the next day I’m getting off work and getting in my elevator (one of the top floors of one of the tallest buildings in Philly) and all of a sudden I look to my left and it’s the same guy from yesterday, except this time wearing a suit and looking extremely polished. We both look at eachother in surprise and amusement. I act like I’m headed in the same direction as him and we walk for 15 minutes together then he gives me his card and says to feel free to shoot him an email to grab some lunch or something. Turns out he works a few floors above me and was a VP at a very reputable CRE firm. I reach out to him and we get lunch that week. We took a full two hours, shot the shit, talked about college, his story, school, greek life, drinking, etc. — nothing about business or asking for favors. We got lunch again at the end of the summer where I communicated some of my future interests and he offered to make in introduction to one of top people at a company in NYC that perfectly matched the profile I was looking for. I said that would be amazing. He wrote an outstanding and generous intro. Fast forward a bit and I end up receiving a job offer from that company and still periodically meet up with him for lunch.

That is just one example but there really are plenty. Even small things like the time I saw a guy on the street whose hat I really liked. I told him “dope hat man, really like it”. 6 words. Later that week I’m going to the bar with my friends and am positive I’m not going to get in, but then all of a sudden these long arms come in and grab me and this guy goes “ayyy the hat, what’s good man”. Turns out he was the bouncer of the bar and I walked right in. As you said, anybody can be somebody. Everybody matters, treat them that way.