Comments on: Never Eat Alone: The Art of Small Talk http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/09/30/never-eat-alone-the-art-of-small-talk/ Financial talk for the rest of us Sat, 16 Feb 2013 01:14:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Giorgio Sironi http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/09/30/never-eat-alone-the-art-of-small-talk/#comment-784924 Giorgio Sironi Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:18:37 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=4346#comment-784924 This book gets weird in the Smalltalk chapter. Ferrazzi introduces the concept of Johari window, and says you have to adjust how much your window is open to communicate with others. Then I went to google for more information on the Johari window and find out it’s something that it’s a totally different concept since it is a group exercise which involves cataloguing a series of adjectives on ourselves…

]]> By: Stacy http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/09/30/never-eat-alone-the-art-of-small-talk/#comment-783671 Stacy Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:53:56 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=4346#comment-783671 Sounds a lot like what you might see in “How to Win Friends and Influence People”. It is timeless advice.

]]> By: brad http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/09/30/never-eat-alone-the-art-of-small-talk/#comment-783625 brad Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:12:51 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=4346#comment-783625 @ nick.

your response is wonderful…tell me more.

]]> By: David/Yourfinances101 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/09/30/never-eat-alone-the-art-of-small-talk/#comment-783589 David/Yourfinances101 Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:09:46 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=4346#comment-783589 Now this is some fantastic stuff.

Who among us is really truly good at these “small talk” situations?

What a great set of “ice-breakers”.

This is my new “small-talk” Bible!

Thanks

]]> By: Kate http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/09/30/never-eat-alone-the-art-of-small-talk/#comment-783380 Kate Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:24:25 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=4346#comment-783380 I’ve got better at talking about myself, too.

It’s nice to draw people out but sometimes there are people who are even more awkward or nervous than me! So it helps to be able to chatter on (for a minute or two) about yourself, family, the weather, why you’re there etc.

If you expect other people to share information about themselves then you need to share too.

]]> By: Patty http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/09/30/never-eat-alone-the-art-of-small-talk/#comment-783377 Patty Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:14:56 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=4346#comment-783377 Looking forward to borrowing my copy at the Library!

One thing I find in these moments is to have a good broad smile, a good handshake,
you can ask any of the following

… what is your interest in this event? How do you know the group, host, like the music, like the food, etc.

if it is kids related – how many kids, schools, sports, coaches, teachers, reminisce about an experience etc.

are you from around here? and that can lead to a waterfall of questions –

You question, get them to talk, and be a good listener.

]]> By: Mike Piper http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/09/30/never-eat-alone-the-art-of-small-talk/#comment-783365 Mike Piper Thu, 01 Oct 2009 01:19:34 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=4346#comment-783365 How’s your novel going? :)

(Is the book you mentioned today on Twitter a novel, or are you writing two books at once?)

]]> By: Anna http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/09/30/never-eat-alone-the-art-of-small-talk/#comment-783357 Anna Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:39:42 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=4346#comment-783357 My one-size-fits-all conversation starter:

“Are you from around here?” (or “Where are you from?”

followed up with

“Oh, I’ve been there, and I really enjoyed….”

or

“I’ve never been there, but I’ve heard….”

or

“I’ve never been there; what’s it like?”

]]> By: John DeFlumeri Jr http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/09/30/never-eat-alone-the-art-of-small-talk/#comment-783314 John DeFlumeri Jr Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:15:14 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=4346#comment-783314 Right Trent, small talk is best when it’s Big Listening.

]]> By: George@Moneylounge.net http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/09/30/never-eat-alone-the-art-of-small-talk/#comment-783292 George@Moneylounge.net Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:24:22 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=4346#comment-783292 Your reviews of this book has made it the next to read on my list.

I’m pretty terrible at small talk. My pitfall seems to be lack of follow up questions/comments at times, especially if it’s something I don’t know much about. I’ve tried changing the topic, although it can lead to a comment like “that was random”, but it also gives you more to talk about.

]]> By: Nick http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/09/30/never-eat-alone-the-art-of-small-talk/#comment-783267 Nick Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:15:35 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/?p=4346#comment-783267 “You’re wonderful. Tell me more.”

Really?

That sounds pretty cheesy. I can’t imagine a situation where I would ever say that to someone.

Especially if I were talking to a woman, she might interpret it as some sort of weird advance…

A better phrase might be, “That’s interesting. Can you tell me more about X…”

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