Take vacations and visit new places whenever possible. Hit up as many of the hip global cities as you can – Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, Cape Town – but try to step off the beaten path sometimes and visit some lesser-known places so that you can talk about unique experiences. Don’t just visit the major tourist destinations–try to have some unique experiences. For instance, if you visit Paris, don’t just go see the Eiffel Tower. Arrange an exclusive consultation with a sommelier in a historic restaurant so you can learn all about the best French wines. Keep a travel journal so that you can remember all of the fabulous adventures you have abroad. Post about your travels on social media while you are away. Don’t forget to take lots of pictures to show everyone where you’ve been and what you’ve done!
You can learn languages by taking classes, working with a private instructor or tutor, using language-learning apps like Duolingo, or trying self-study books and audio materials. Traveling to and studying in a country that speaks the language you are interested in is the best way to immerse yourself and learn. Spanish, Chinese, French, Arabic and Italian are all fashionable and useful languages to know, but you should study whichever language interests you, even if it’s a less common one like Finnish or Lithuanian.
Reading the news daily (via a website, news app, or newspaper) Subscribing to and listening to podcasts that cover major trends and topics Surrounding yourself with a diversity of opinions, including those that differ from your own, so that you stay knowledgeable and worldly. Following a variety of news sources, from in-depth economic analysis to pop news. Keeping up with world politics is important, but a worldly person will also know something about fashion trends, entertainment news, and sports.
Start by reading deeply in a topic you are interested in, whether it’s the history of Russia, modern technology, or ethnic cuisines. Seek to become an expert in your chosen field. At the same time, challenge yourself to read about new topics, and ones you are less familiar with. There’s no better time than now to start learning French, or how to make sushi! This way, you’ll be able to talk with others about a wide range of topics, making you seem very worldly. Books, newspapers, magazine, and quality websites are all good reading material.
Don’t just tell people you’ve visited Tuscany. Tell them about the time you met some locals in a bar in Florence who invited you to hop a train to Naples, climb Mt. Vesuvius, pick grapes from a centuries-old vineyard, and sample wine on a sunlit terrace. Seize the opportunity to be an extra in a film. While you might have to stand in line for hours in the cold waiting to be called up, it will be worth it when you can brag about appearing in the film, and taking a selfie with Hollywood’s biggest star.
There’s a fine line between seeming worldly and bragging. It’s fine to show off your talents, but don’t do it in an obnoxious way. If someone strikes up a conversation about music with you, don’t just blurt out right away that you know how to play all of Beethoven’s piano concertos. Wait for a natural point in the conversation. If they ask about your repertoire, you can say something like “Actually, I’m quite familiar with Beethoven’s works…”
If you are careful, you will be able to imply that you’ve had exciting, enviable experiences – even if you haven’t actually – without really lying. Drop places or peoples’ names into conversation as though you’ve been there or know them, even if you don’t. For instance, you might say something like “All the big stars in Hollywood go to Republique for brunch. ” Be cautious if someone calls you ought or asks for more information. If a friend asks “Oh, so you’ve been to Republique? Who did you see there?” you have the choice of either trying to invent a story about seeing Brad Pitt there, or just admitting “No, but I’ve read about it. ”
Volunteer time with a community organization to show that you want to share your worldliness with others in your area. Donate to a charity supporting a cause you believe in to show that you are worldly enough to help others. Get involved in your field’s professional organization to connect with colleagues and mentor the next generation.
Avoid complaining excessively about your job. Seek opportunities for advancement, to gain new skills, or to work with new teams. Jump on any opportunities your job offers for travel. It will impress people when you tell them you’ve got to go catch a flight to Jakarta for business, and you will increase your knowledge of the world at the same time.
Signs that you are taking it too far include feeling stressed or anxious about constantly trying to impress people, or suffering financially because you are overspending on luxury items or travel. If you have authentic relationships with your friends, on the other hand, you’ll be able let your hair down around them, and be happy just spending time with them watching Netflix, grabbing a pizza, or goofing off in whatever way you all enjoy.
