Spy Interview Diaries

Meet someone and whether you know if or not you're on a interview.  The other person is sizing you up, it's something we all do conscientiously or not, we all want to know what the other person has hidden up their sleeve that sets them apart.  At the end of the day unless you're a serial killer, the goal is to stand out.  There are many different scenarios in which this happens and what reason each person is interviewing i.e. friend relationship, intimate relationship, sexual relationship, professional ability, athleticism, the list goes on and on.

However my thoughts lean more towards the question of, Do you interview well?  Can you walk into any room and project the personal image you want people to see?  On one end of the spectrum you have the Urban Chameleon, the person that can be the right thing at the right time.  At the other end of the spectrum you have Socially Awkward, the person who isn't comfortable in their own skin let alone close to other people.  As always the Grey in between...people who blend...in a bad way.

I interview well but I'm much better at giving the interview.  Meeting a person and finding out what makes them tick is something that interest me...as a product something that has become second nature.  The great thing about being genuinely interested up front is you get all the information you need and more to frame out a person.  People love to talk about themselves to a captivated audience, keeping the question light yet targeted, puts their walls down and builds trust.  Finding a common non-threatening point also opens the door for people to show you all their cards.  They want you to know how clever they are and you want to know too.  Those are the little tid-bits you keep filed away for later on, when you question something about the person you can think back to how they handle previous situations.

While all this sounds methodical and thought out it's not.  I came accross being able to do this so well by two thing noticing details and remembering them.  While I will drop little hints here and there about certain things I know about people, I don't let them know that I have a full profile of them in my head and add to it each time I see them...that would freak people out.  Truth be told that is exactly how my mind works, keeping notes on each person I come in contact with...strong points to weak points.

This all comes up in the blog, because people that meet/know me like to accuse me of being a spy.  A running joke that I have your ssn as soon as I meet you, pull accounts and what not.  Silly really, at least that's the reaction I'm sticking to.  Blow my cover and I won't be able to write more Spy Diary entries.

-n

The Path Chosen

 Through heavy damp eyelashes the light stretches, dancing across the pavement. Her mind focused and blank at the same time, she takes in her surroundings.  A chill settles into her bones, bringing her painfully aware to the state of alone she's in. Not lonely but solitaire, in thought, heart and movement. A direction set by herself, following no one is...as promised not the clear or easy way. The tears are gone in this state of still, not going forward or back, legs won't take her anywhere she is destine, her wants have left her with a taste not soon forgotten, not easily sated.

Turning her eyes back to the path, over grown, dark and unknown. She checks her new load that looks lighter but feels heavier than before. Her dress tears as she pushes forward, falling in line with so many tears that have come before it. She barely flinches as the branch draws blood, she has many miles to go before she can mend. Her walnut colored eyes look to a dark crescent moon, it's dim light not aiding her journey.  She takes comfort in knowing the only light she needs is that which comes from within.

-n