When I was young I thought the secret to popularity was to be as impressive as possible so people would want to talk to me. Instead they thought I was arrogant. Then I examined what made me want to befriend someone, and I learned that I'd had it all backwards. The real secret to popularity is not to be impressive, but to be impressed. I spend an entire conversation asking questions, saying "wow" and "that's so interesting" and "you know so much about this do you mind telling me more?" I don't even need to say a word about myself; it's so much less work. Now people call me "down-to-earth", they all want to be my friend, even if the only thing they know about me is that I make them feel validated. Everybody - from ages 1 to 100 - wants to be impressive. So let them be, and they will gravitate towards you.