We’ve all probably wondered it a million times (that is if we even care).  Why is Paris Hilton famous?  Most of us don’t give it more than a moments thought because the question doesn’t really warrant any more.  After all we are busy in our daily lives and if we stopped to give time to (apparently) meaningless questions we would never get anything done.

If this is you, don’t worry, you’re not alone.  To tell you the truth I couldn’t give 2 hoots about Paris Hilton.  With all the drama swirling around currently you can’t turn left or right without hearing or seeing something about her.  This makes me even less likely to give any time to stories about her.

That is until…
That is until while reading an interesting article about SEO (Search Engine Optimization) the author brought up the point ‘Why Paris Hilton Is Famous’.  If it had come from anywhere else I would have discarded it but because it came from an author I respect I thought it worth a read.  The aritcle referenced the blog from Chartreuse on the same subject (which I also recommend you read by clicking here) which talks about Paris and her habit of casually and freely plugging the goods and services of other businesses.  Even when she was arrested for DUI she still had the presence of mind to mention why she was speeding (she was hungry)  and where she was heading (In-N-Out Burger).  To my knowledge she did not have a pre-standing relationship with this company she just choose to release to the media where she was heading and why.

This in a nutshell is why Paris Hilton is Famous.  It’s not why she became famous (as most of us know her initial fame was the result of a sexually explicit video being released) but it is why she remains famous years after the fact.  Paris Hilton is famous because she has learnt that by mentioning others even during bad media coverage that companies love her.  These companies get free media coverage and as a result Paris gets the fame and fortune she craves.

So how does this relate to me?
So you are probably wondering how this relates to you?  Well it relates to us all because by the act of linking herself or her actions to others Paris creates a hightened profile (and thereby positive relationship) with big and profitable companies.  It’s the old ‘What you give out comes back to you’ idealogy.  In our daily lives whether it be striving for a job, selling a product to prospects, or even running a business if you give something first without the thought of return we always fare better than just pushing our own ageda.  I know from a web point of view that the easiset way to get websites to link to us is to link to them first and not ask anything in return.  Then sure as I am here within a few days or a week I notice links coming back to us.

 If I were going for a job the first thing I would do is find a way to casually (and sincerely, it cannot be fake) complement my prospective employer.

We’ve all had sales calls where someone (usually telemarketers) has a script they are selling from and tries to talk there way into a sale.  Then compare that with a call from someone we know and trust recommending a service we may benefit.  We can’t stand the sales call but are usually genuinely thankful (even if we don’t need the service recommended) for the friendly call.  Why?  Simply because the friend is offering us something with no thought of return to themselves.  Our protective walls are down and we are open to the suggestion.

If all of us can remember to live our lives with the thought of giving credit, or thanks, or promotion, or anything for that matter with this same ideal I am positive we will see our returns increase as well.  This might sound a little idealistic in such a gimme gimme world but i believe it to be true.

Thanks
Adam.