One of the ways to be interesting is to behave in unexpected ways. If people know exactly what you will say and how you will behave, they may see you as boring.

“The one unforgivable sin is to be boring”
― Christopher Hitchens, Hitch 22: A Memoir

I have a reputation for being serious even though I also have a silly streak. You might not know it, but I find joy in surprising people and making them laugh. Trish experiences this often; I still surprise her after all these years.

Maybe my serious reputation is a boon. It’s easier to surprise someone who thinks you’re predictable. I pulled some amazing pranks in my corporate days and people never suspected it was me. The greatest one involved my coworker’s penguin statue going on adventures with Bumble and writing home about it with pictures. My coworker never figured out I was involved until I confessed years later.

How do you shake things up and keep people guessing?