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[Gast Basem101]

Don't show off. Be yourself.

They say that in New York you are what you do.

The first thing anyone asks you at a party is "what do you do?"

And everyone has a cool answer at the ready:

"I'm an artist", "I'm an actor", "I'm a photographer", "I'm a film maker"...

Now you've got a cool answer too. You can say "I'm a model".

Actually, showing off seems to be a strategy that works well, at least in the short term.

I don't deny that during the IMT contest, at parties I often introduced myself as Benetton's New York correspondent.

I don't know why but in the crazy atmosphere of the fancy Upper East Side lofts, it sounded even cooler than my real profession of creative director which, let me tell you, is pretty high on the cool factor scale.

I have to admit that I earned a few "oh my god, really?" and even some "that's freaking amazing man!" and, modestly, I don't hide the fact that there were even times when I got "Nick you are a genius!"

OK, there and then you get over-excited because you feel extremely cool, but when everyone is someone, all this showing off gets a bit cheesy and out of proportion and it's those people who really know how to be themselves that stand out.

When someone says with an intense air "well, I'm an artist" and you catch the simultaneously arrogant and sad expression on his face (Andy Warholesque), try asking "Where can I see your latest exhibition?".

Don't be surprised if he stutters an excuse about the fact that he is living a deep inspirational crisis and that his work has been stuck in his Soho studio for months. If you get to know him better you might discover that he has never finished a painting and his wealthy father pays the rent on the Soho place where, among the immaculate canvases on the walls, parties happen every night, not artistic activity.

As usual, those with talent don't need to shout about it. Talent is an intimate attribute which, when you know you have it, gratifies you even if you don't show about it.

It's always more interesting to introduce yourself as you really are.

Sometimes I have had the courage to say "it doesn't matter what I do, I can tell you who I am if you want" and do you know what reply I got? If I was lucky it was "Wow, relax man! Take it easy!". I realized that going too far in the opposite direction was also about showing off.

So, how can you be yourself? I don't know guys. I'm not a life guru. Maybe, like they say, you need to go to India, not New York, to find out. Or perhaps you simply have to take a look inside yourself. I just know that when I have been myself it felt good and everything flowed as naturally as water. Like magic, I was the star at parties, not the pseudo artist from Soho.

Nick Landucci, New York

[VIA]

[Gast Basem101]

Bananas and Monkeys

(original source unknown)

Start with a cage containing five monkeys.

Inside the cage, hang a banana on a string and place a set of stairs under it. Before long, a monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the other monkeys with cold water.

After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with the same result - all the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it.

Now, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his surprise and horror, all of the other monkeys attack him.

After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.

Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm! Likewise, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth, then the fifth. Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is attacked.

Most of the monkeys that are beating him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs or why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.

After replacing all the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the banana. Why not? Because as far as they know that's the way it's always been done round here.

And that, my friends, is how company policies are made.

[VIA]