In today’s society, attention is the new currency.
Past entertainers paved the way for spectacles to become a money-making juggernaut.
In the 1940s – 1950s, American wrestler Gorgeous George created fanfare as he entered the ring to the music of “Pomp and Circumstance.”
In the 1960s – 1970s, boxer Muhammad Ali followed Gorgeous George’s playbook and created excitement by predicting the round he would defeat his opponent.
Today, anyone who wants to become a celebrity believes they must be loud and outlandish.
Successful Instagram models can make millions based on their ability to attract attention.
According to Auditions HQ, the Instagram influencer market is worth an estimated $2.38 billion.
With the advent of social media, few are willing to cultivate their talent, opting to cut the line and go straight to stardom.
Gone are the days when modeling agencies and Hollywood studios determined the fate of models, actors, and actresses.
You can merely post provocative pictures on Facebook, Instagram, and OnlyFans to gain attention.
Is there a difference between gaining attention and being interesting?
Yes, there is. Gaining attention requires individuals to merely do something that appeals to one’s curiosity or baser instincts.
However, being interesting requires a specific sui generis or uniqueness.
And fortunately, uniqueness is not synonymous with uninhibited attention.
The idea behind interest must change from an external, extroverted concept to an internal, insightful phenomenon.
This is great news for introverts.
Mystery has always been intriguing. The fewer facts people know about you, the more intriguing you become.
Strategic introverts can be more interesting by creating intellectual property that solves real-world problems using the exact mechanisms as extroverted influencers while remaining anonymous.
Related: How Introverts Can Become Famous Online and Remain Anonymous
The archetype for strategic introverts is exemplified in the movie “V for Vendetta.”
The protagonist “V” is a vigilante when an imaginary England has become a dictatorial world power.
The premise is that V uses secretive and stealth means to undermine England’s ambitions to control the minds and aspirations of its citizens.
V is the consummate strategic introvert because he lives under the radar, has captured the imagination of the citizenry, and uses logic to wage war.
In this regard, V is engaging and transformational.
But what makes him so? And how can strategic introverts become more influential in impacting the world?
Strategic introverts live a philosophically driven lifestyle.
According to the Department of Philosophy at Florida State University, Philosophy is …An activity people undertake when they seek to understand fundamental truths about themselves, the world in which they live, and their relationships to the world and each other….
Strategic introverts are steeped in philosophy because they live vicariously through the lives of historical figures. Lessons from the past are facts that serve as foundational principles.
Unlike Instagram models who are selling products, strategic introverts promote ideas.
These ideas help enrich the human experience through intellectualism, which encourages individuals to actualize their potential.
Strategic introverts become interesting by allowing their ideas to shine. They are concept focused versus personality-driven.
This requires identifying who you are, what you believe, and your philosophy’s potential impact on society.
The key is to attract like-minded people who share your analyses based on their unmet needs and desire to develop similarly.
We often try to convert unbelievers instead of attracting those who share our values, goals, and aspirations.
Strategic introverts don’t chase public approval.
The idea of manufacturing images to become interesting is a failing proposition.
Interest is inconsistent and unpredictable. As soon as you are noticed, the crowd moves on to the next glittery experience.
Strategic introverts don’t chase public acclaim.
The need for public approval disintegrates when you are working on a mission that resonates with your core values.
Strategic introverts become passionate, magnetic, and hypnotic when discussing their ideas.
Are strategic introverts intentional in their engagement?
Yes. They are deliberate in their desire to see their ideas flourish.
Instagram influencers are savvy at getting people to engage with their imagery but lack the insight and thoughtfulness to help others solve critical problems.
Quiet influence is the next wave.
Interest is a relative term because it changes based on the mood and tenor of society.
Gorgeous George and Muhammad Ali captured audiences’ imaginations at a time when traditionalism and conservatism were the fabric of America.
Showy and ostentatious public personalities were anathema to the sentiment and values of middle America.
They were precursors to today’s influencers.
As society becomes more complex and competitive, people look for solutions to dire situations.
When household finances are squeezed, and crime escalates, individuals desire more than mere entertainment.
Suddenly, what is exciting takes on a new form.
When everyone is shouting to be heard, the quiet person in the corner becomes interesting because she is an anomaly.
It isn’t necessarily the population that wants to escape accountability and personal responsibility that wishes to hear the introvert; it is like-minded individuals who have been quietly campaigning for a change.
When everyone is living out loud, the best strategy is silence and solitude.
Silence and solitude capture the imagination of audiences at a time when depravity and decadence have become the fabric of America.
When culture goes off the rails, gentility and etiquette come in style.
Strategic introverts are the ones who must skillfully navigate social landmines to safety.
If attention is today’s new currency, then insightfulness is tomorrow’s.
Strategic introverts must avoid turning the virtues of insightfulness into the perils of attention.
In a society that places a price on everything, shortsightedness is too much of a price to pay when civilization is suffering.
—Edward Brown
References
Auditions HQ (2022, Feb. 1). How much do Instagram models make? Retrieved from: https://bit.ly/3GFFHDQ.
Department of Philosophy (n.d.). What is philosophy? Florida State University Website. Retrieved from: https://bit.ly/3tMK0py.
