I’ve spent most of my life trying to not stand out.
Fit in. Fade into the back. Stay comfortable. Don’t speak up. Wait my turn.
Maximize my sameness.
“I was just overwhelmed by how invisible he was. Just his shear mediocrity was hard to deny. It was so attractive.”
That makes sense, right?
Which brings me to the Apple Store, or as like I call it — The Introvert’s Torture Chamber. No customer service desk. No discernable line. No signs. Just a sea of co-mingled blue-shirted workers and customers running around doing extroverted things.
Torture for anyone looking to maximize their sameness.
Once, however, I found an unlikley guide that has forever changed my Apple Store experience and taught me a life lesson in how and when to stand out.
Needing to replace my laptop keyboard, I approached the door at the Philly Apple Store simultaneously with another guy. I held it for him, followed him in, and walked into the nightmare.
Inside the door, a haphazard cloud of 10 or 12 customers milled about in front of a group of three blue-shirts.
What’s my next move? I guess I’ll just stand here.
But I watched with amazement as this guy I held the door for found the correct blue-shirt guy, checked in, and walked directly over to a table to wait for help within 60 seconds. Ten minutes later, after waiting my turn, I found myself standing next to him at our appointed table.
Here was my chance.
