Good consistency = boring? How to rock the boat

[The Comeback Kid]

As recently as last year, I was much more of a "loose cannon." I'd either be on the ball or way, way off. No one knew which TCK they were going to get: the one who is perfectly on his game, or the one who is going to be up and down all day. I used to go into a lot of things without thinking it through. While one can see this as "exciting," I felt it made my peers not take me as seriously. I was like a "gimmick."

Quietly, I underwent a transformation. I've become extremely consistent. Not generic (I still don't do things everyone else does) - just consistent. Perhaps it's due to more self-confidence, but I don't rush into decisions and I'm usually more on the ball than my peers. I'll pick up on things quickly. I can see what's going to happen two or three steps from now and prepare for it. I'm usually pretty calm and collected, I don't explode on little things. There aren't many surprises these days. In terms of my performance on all sorts of things, I don't differentiate from my norm. My results are eerily consistent when it comes to grades in a class or how a "TCK broadcast" on the student radio will be. While the results are usually good, it's very consistent.

The good part is that, unlike before, people do take me more seriously. They feel I'm "money in the bank" because they know what to expect, I won't fluctuate much. The problem, however, is that this can be predictable, this can be boring! With girls and dating and such, this isn't good. Although I am doing well, the fact it's always very similar results can be too synonymous. Oddly, I'm not "just like everyone else" either. I still so things my own way, it just doesn't surprise anyone and I guess I present it better.

Meanwhile, I have a friend who is completely the opposite. He's good at what he does, but he is extremely hit or miss. He can do something brilliantly one day, then be a train wreck the next. In a class we have where we present projects, my Prof. knows what to expect when I present. When he presents, she cringes. He'll either be up there where I am, or the wheels will come off and it's a disaster. The point is, this excitement of inconsistency apparently gives him a social advantage. He connects with girls better than I do. He's had more success with girls than I've had. His inconsistency makes him exciting.

My questions are:
1.) Can being "consistently good" be a double-edged sword? While I do well with a lot of things (not girl-related though), people expect it. They're not surprised at whatever results I have. My friend is either really good or really bad at a given moment. Maybe that's more exciting?
2.) What can I do to "rock the boat?" It seems people have the book on me, no matter what I do. What are things I can do that will turn heads, but also won't turn into a disaster b/c I'm in uncharted territory? Picture it as a football team who has a great running game or a balanced attack and now wants to take a couple of deep strikes down the field and create some very big plays (while my friend tries to go deep every single play and either succeeds or gets mashed).

 

[HeyPachuco!]

Its in you're name.

Do something spontaneous and totally out of your zones. Deliberately fail, to comeback.

 

[Deadly_Ripped]

Consistent and reliable are not synonymous with boring. Spontanaeity is a different kind of inconsistency that can be engineered at will.

You can conciously make a decision to do something different, or to say things a different way. I would NEVER advocate that you intentionally fail at something to break out of a cycle of awesomeness.

Instead, you could try rocking people's expectations by excelling in a NEW and EXCITING way! Perhaps for a presentation you could hand out props or have a demonstration or a skit or something.

Everyone loves a winner! You're equating your academic consistency with your romantic success, and I don't think those two are very closely connected.

By the way, what changed between your 'loose cannon' demeanor and your current mode?

 

[HeyPachuco!]

Oh, I thought it was generally about consistency with girls, but if you're talking GENERALLY with day-to-day subjects, then what Ripped said.

 

[The Comeback Kid]

Consistent and reliable are not synonymous with boring. Spontanaeity is a different kind of inconsistency that can be engineered at will.

You can conciously make a decision to do something different, or to say things a different way. I would NEVER advocate that you intentionally fail at something to break out of a cycle of awesomeness.

Instead, you could try rocking people's expectations by excelling in a NEW and EXCITING way! Perhaps for a presentation you could hand out props or have a demonstration or a skit or something.

Everyone loves a winner! You're equating your academic consistency with your romantic success, and I don't think those two are very closely connected.

By the way, what changed between your 'loose cannon' demeanor and your current mode?

I meant as more day-to-day events, not specifically grades...I'm not a 4.0 student by any means (I do well, but not THAT well) :crackup:

Presenting myself in a different way could work. I took a public speaking class and did very well in that using props, etc. However, as mentioned before, I refer to day-to-day interaction.

I used classes as an example because it's the easiest to make parallels with. For the most part, as this thread is all about, my actions are usually consistent.

You ask what changed between "loose cannon" me and current me. I used to be very jumpy. I'd go from one topic right into another at 100 miles per hour. I was extremely impatient. I went for the moon and the stars and wasn't being quite as realistic in my aims. I took risks (which is good), but not well-calculated risks. While I never "erupted" when I was angry or frustrated, you could tell I was more shaken. I used to be loaded with antics and schemes.

Nowadays, I can contain my emotions better. I might want to sock someone who is being a jerk, but I know that won't make anybody look good. I transition into topics more smoothly. I am still not the most patient person around, but I am more so than I used to be. I like to do the best I can on something, but I keep it realistic. I'd like to take a couple more risks, but the ones I've taken aren't completely wild and far-fetched. A lot of it is that I think before I act more often. I'm more composed, I don't freak out under pressure (some say I am too calm). I am much less with the antics and schemes, preferring to just go straight ahead and whatever happens happens.

So, as I mention in the OP, I need help with ways to "rock the boat" and shake things up. My friend is full of unique antics and schemes. While he does have some success (again, he's done a little better with girls than I have), he also turns into a train wreck at times too.

 

[The Comeback Kid]

Any other thoughts? I'd like to keep the positive elements of being consistent at things, but add a little wrinkle to the playbook every now and then, mix it up a bit.