Red Carpet Experience...

[C33]

Whenever I have a hard time determining who my real friends are and to choose potential friends, I run this little experiment in my mind.
I imagine that I am attending a red carpet event, because of my achievements. It helps to imagine yourself as being an actor going to her/his film premiere or to the Oscar.

Who would be at your arm on the red carpet?

Who will be cheering for you from behind the security gates? Do you have people in your life who could believe in you enough and love you enough to cheer for you in the anonymity of a crowd?

Who will you invite at the celebratory dinner of your success afterwards? Are your friends or loved ones able to be in an environment where you will be celebrating your success and getting a lot of attention?

Do you have people in your life that could potentially embarrass you in that sort of situations? (Someone in your circle who talks too loudly or has poor manners that could badly reflect on you.)

Who will be riding with you in the limo on the way to the special event and on the way back? Would that be the same person or the same group of persons? Who's helping you adjust your outfit in the limo, rehearsing your speech? Who's asking you if you're nervous? Who's drunk already?Who is asking where you are going to celebrate and who will be there?

If you invited your friends/loved ones to this special event, what would be their response to the invitation? "Great! Congratulations!" or " You're lucky".

What kind of reasons would they give you to come: would they come to celebrate your success or use your success to meet celebrities and getting a free meal? If they chose not to come, what would be their excuse:" I have no one to babysit the kids." " I have nothing to wear." Would the excuses be about them and their needs or would they be concerned about your well being, and you being comfortable?

Would the people you know be likely to be stopped by security because they would look or act like they don't fit in? Would they get angry in such a situation? Would they take it with a smile and say:"I'm with....(fill in your name)."

Finally, where does the majority of your friends stand? Do you have a lot of friends in the limo after the events to have fun and celebrate? Do you have a lot of cheering friends who could not be invited to a special event for a number of reasons but who wouldn't mind being supportive of your success?

And also: how hard or easy is it to picture yourself on a red carpet?

[Zukin]

Thanks for the advice C33!

That reminds me - a great way to make friends is to give them the red carpet experience and make them feel that they are a star.