The Secret to Owning Any Room

Hey, it’s Kayvon Kay,

I’ll never forget the first time I learned what it really takes to make a mark in any room.

I was at an event full of big personalities. Everyone was trying to stand out—loud voices, over-the-top stories, people trying to outshine each other.

And then there was this one guy. Quiet, calm, composed.

At first, I didn’t notice him. But by the end of the night? He’d connected with everyone in the room—and not in a flashy way.

People wanted to talk to him.

They leaned in when he spoke.

He stood out without even trying.

What was his secret?

It wasn’t about commanding attention.

It was about balancing two things: being interesting and being interested.

Why Most People Get It Wrong

Here’s the mistake most people make in business, sales, and life:

They focus so much on being interesting that they forget to be interested.

Or, they go the other way—they stay quiet and curious but fail to bring any value of their own.

The magic happens when you strike the balance.

Be Interested

Being interested is about genuinely caring. It’s about:

• Asking meaningful questions.

• Paying attention to what people are saying—not just to respond, but to understand.

• Making people feel seen, heard, and valued.

In sales, this is everything.

Your prospects don’t care about how great you are—they care about how much you care about them.

The more interested you are, the more they’ll open up. And when people open up, they give you the keys to closing the deal.

Be Interesting

But here’s the flip side: being interested isn’t enough.

If you’re just a listener, you’ll fade into the background.

To stand out, you have to bring something to the table. Share stories, insights, or ideas that stick.

In sales, this is where you shine.

• Be the person who has a solution they’ve never thought of.

• Be the expert who brings clarity to their biggest problem.

• Be the storyteller who inspires them to take action.

When you’re both interested and interesting, people don’t just remember you—they gravitate toward you.

The Balance in Action

Here’s what this looks like in business:

Be Interested: Spend the first part of the conversation diving into your prospect’s world. Ask real questions, listen carefully, and make them feel understood.

Be Interesting: Once you’ve built that connection, share your value in a way that’s clear, compelling, and relevant to them.

It’s not about overpowering the room—it’s about creating a connection that lasts.

Real Talk: How Are You Showing Up?

Ask yourself:

• Are you genuinely interested in the people you’re speaking to?

• Are you bringing enough value to make them see you as the expert they need?

• Are you finding the balance—or leaning too far in one direction?

Because here’s the truth:

People don’t remember the loudest person in the room. They remember the one who made them feel seen and inspired.

To your success,
Kayvon Kay

P.S. Try this the next time you’re in a room, on a call, or pitching a prospect: focus first on being interested, then bring the value to be interesting. Watch how people respond.