Be an extreme character

Be an extreme(ikˈstrēm) character(ˈkariktər)

By Derek Sivers

This is both fun and considerate(kənˈsidərət).

When people say that a movie(ˈmo͞ovē) has a great character, they mean it was someone especially(iˈspeSHəlē) shocking(ˈSHäkiNG), funny, or honest(ˈänist). To be a great entertainer(ˌentərˈtānər), you need to be larger than life.

Push your outer boundaries. Show your weirdness(wi(ə)rd). Bring out all your quirks(kwərk). The world needs that.

Your public persona(pərˈsōnə) — the image you show the world — should be an extreme character. It can be a version of yourself, or it can be a mask. (It’s easier to be honest behind a mask.)

Some of the biggest musicians(myo͞oˈziSHən) of the last few decades(ˈdekād) have admitted they were playing a character. Eminem, for example, said he wrote lyrics(ˈlirik) with the goal of shocking a passive(ˈpasiv) listener into paying attention(əˈtenCHən). Then he built his public persona(pərˈsōnə) to match the lyrics.

Are you concerned(kənˈsərnd) that maybe you should play it safe, because your music isn’t so extreme? Well… Think of the conservative(kənˈsərvətiv), old-fashioned performers(pərˈfôrmər) that your great-grandmother probably liked. Frank Sinatra. Judy Garland(ˈgärlənd). Miles Davis(ˈdāvis). Billie Holiday. Even these old legends(ˈlejənd) were rather extreme.

It’s more interesting for the audience if you’re the opposite(ˈäpəzit) of normal. So be an extreme character. The spotlight(ˈspätˌlīt) is the excuse. You can get away with anything in the name of entertainment.

https://sivers.org/evers