Hub You - The Art of Starting a Conversation

Getting off on the right foot

Here are hints to help you feel at ease, make others comfortable, ensure you are memorable after the event and gain helpful information as well.

1. Establish your purpose for attending event.

a. To gather information? It can vary from learning more about the sponsoring organization to making an educated decision about joining to learning more about specific businesses or individuals who are likely to attend.
b. To get referrals? These can include business or job referrals or for support services necessary to run and grow your business.
c. To seek advice or support? This might range from encouragement in a job search or in your venture into entrepreneurship. Or it might be from people in other companies who are employed in the same field or the same industry.
In any case, prepare your “ask for” questions and your “listen for” answers so you sound ready and are prepared to hold stimulating conversations while simultaneously enhancing your knowledge base.

2. Prepare your verbal business card.

Be ready to share with others in one or two sentences what you do … not how you do it or who you are. These logically follow. You want to intrigue people to talk with you while informing them about what you do that will benefit them or people they know. Keep it simple because while people are listening to you, they are also assessing your appearance and behavior, trying to remember your name and planning what they will say.

Always include your first and last name (even your friends have memory lapses!), what you do, benefits to others and active verbs, the most powerful words in the English language. In general, omit your company name (unless it is really well known), your company location, titles, business labels and go easy on adjectives and adverbs. You’ll want to tailor the above information when you are with people from your company or in the same industry. They will understand and even expect jargon.

One of mine follows:
“I’m Lillian Bjorseth, and I help you increase your comfort level with meeting people and getting along better with others.”

Here are hints to help you feel at ease, make others comfortable, ensure you are memorable after the event and gain helpful information as well.

1. Establish your purpose for attending event.

a. To gather information? It can vary from learning more about the sponsoring organization to making an educated decision about joining to learning more about specific businesses or individuals who are likely to attend.
b. To get referrals? These can include business or job referrals or for support services necessary to run and grow your business.
c. To seek advice or support? This might range from encouragement in a job search or in your venture into entrepreneurship. Or it might be from people in other companies who are employed in the same field or the same industry.
In any case, prepare your “ask for” questions and your “listen for” answers so you sound ready and are prepared to hold stimulating conversations while simultaneously enhancing your knowledge base.

2. Prepare your verbal business card.

Be ready to share with others in one or two sentences what you do … not how you do it or who you are. These logically follow. You want to intrigue people to talk with you while informing them about what you do that will benefit them or people they know. Keep it simple because while people are listening to you, they are also assessing your appearance and behavior, trying to remember your name and planning what they will say.

Always include your first and last name (even your friends have memory lapses!), what you do, benefits to others and active verbs, the most powerful words in the English language. In general, omit your company name (unless it is really well known), your company location, titles, business labels and go easy on adjectives and adverbs. You’ll want to tailor the above information when you are with people from your company or in the same industry. They will understand and even expect jargon.

One of mine follows:
“I’m Lillian Bjorseth, and I help you increase your comfort level with meeting people and getting along better with others.”

Proper Business Attire: Where Do You Draw the Line?
Over the years, business attire has changed significantly. Because of the sudden change in business dress code it is sometimes difficult to draw the line between what’s acceptable and what’s unacceptable. Business wear in the traditional sense is stringent. Traditional business attire, for men, purely consists of wearing a dress suit. This includes wearing a matching coat and slacks, a long sleeved dress shirt, a necktie, and dress shoes. Traditional business attire for women is comprised of a blouse layered by a suit jacket with a coordinating skirt or slacks, and a pair of pumps. Bright colors are generally discouraged for both men and women ervices necessary to run and grow your business.
c. To seek advice or support? This might range from encouragement in a job search or in your venture into entrepreneurship. Or it might be from people in other companies who are employed in the same field or the same industry.
In any case, prepare your “ask for” questions and your “listen for” answers so you sound ready and are prepared to hold stimulating conversations while simultaneously enhancing your knowledge base.

2. Prepare your verbal business card.

Be ready to share with others in one or two sentences what you do … not how you do it or who you are. These logically follow. You want to intrigue people to talk with you while informing them about what you do that will benefit them or people they know. Keep it simple because while people are listening to you, they are also assessing your appearance and behavior, trying to remember your name and planning what they will say.

Always include your first and last name (even your friends have memory lapses!), what you do, benefits to others and active verbs, the most powerful words in the English language. In general, omit your company name (unless it is really well known), your company location, titles, business labels and go easy on adjectives and adverbs. You’ll want to tailor the above information when you are with people from your company or in the same industry. They will understand and even expect jargon.

One of mine follows:
“I’m Lillian Bjorseth, and I help you increase your comfort level with meeting people and getting along better with others.”

Finding the Right T-shirt Supplier for T-Shirt Printing
Put T-shirts or polo-shirts in to Google and dozens of suppliers will be returned, but how do you decide who to buy from?Generally speaking, it’s best to stick to the products from tried and tested manufactures. Companies such as Hanes, Fruit of the Loom and Gildan are all proven distribution outlets and you can view their catalogues online.You don’t have to take the online route to managing your suppliers. But there’s no doubt that the convenience of being able to order when its convenient for you, day or night, can be very useful.Make sure that you’re working with an established wholesaler or distributor. There are plentye ready to share with others in one or two sentences what you do … not how you do it or who you are. These logically follow. You want to intrigue people to talk with you while informing them about what you do that will benefit them or people they know. Keep it simple because while people are listening to you, they are also assessing your appearance and behavior, trying to remember your name and planning what they will say.

Always include your first and last name (even your friends have memory lapses!), what you do, benefits to others and active verbs, the most powerful words in the English language. In general, omit your company name (unless it is really well known), your company location, titles, business labels and go easy on adjectives and adverbs. You’ll want to tailor the above information when you are with people from your company or in the same industry. They will understand and even expect jargon.

One of mine follows:
“I’m Lillian Bjorseth, and I help you increase your comfort level with meeting people and getting along better with others.”

Help Your Sales With Promotional Products
Finding that your customer base is shrinking, or that your sales might not be as high as they should this time of year can be tough – so it is a great idea to help your sales with promotional products.One way to help your sales with promotional products is quite simple – debut new products with your logo on them! If you are a company branching out from one arena into another, it can seem tough to break through – for example, if you are trying to sell office products and the market is already saturated. If you want people to buy your new notepads and paper, give away some of the new product printed with your name. When customers like whats and active verbs, the most powerful words in the English language. In general, omit your company name (unless it is really well known), your company location, titles, business labels and go easy on adjectives and adverbs. You’ll want to tailor the above information when you are with people from your company or in the same industry. They will understand and even expect jargon.

One of mine follows:
“I’m Lillian Bjorseth, and I help you increase your comfort level with meeting people and getting along better with others.”

3. Remember introduction basics.

Even though you learned this in elementary school, you might need a refresher:
a. A younger person is introduced to an older person
b. A man is introduced to a woman
c. A less important person is introduced to a VIP.
In other words, say the name of the person who is older, the woman and the VIP first. You deserve to be addressed as you want to be; however, you must let people know your preference so they can start the conversation correctly. If your printed nametag says “Robert,” and you prefer, “Bob,” it’s fine to cross through the name and print “Bob” on it. Use a felt tip pen so people can easily read it.

4. Weave newcomers into the conversation.

When someone new joins you, immediately introduce him or her to everyone or allow the person an ample opportunity to do. Bring the person up-to-date by quickly reviewing what you were talking about (remember it’s a new conversation for them) and then asking them for an opinion or comment.

5. Remember names.

The start of any conversation is a good place for you to start remembering someone’s name. Hopefully, the person knows to wear the nametag on the right side (unobstructed by lapels or scarves) so that your eye will easily travel to it as you make the initial handshake. Hopefully, the person also knows to say his/her name along with the handshake.
a. Look at the nametag.
b. Listen as the person gives you his/her name.
c. Study the person’s business card to help implant the name in your memory.
d. Repeat it several times during the first few minutes of the conversation.
e. Use it when you introduce the person to others.
f. On another note, it is vital that you use the person’s name as you make your rounds to say “good-bye” to everyone you met.

6. Ask open-ended questions.

The best way to avoid those one-word answers that make you feel as if your attempts at conversation have been thwarted is to not ask “yes” and “no” questions. Or, if you start off with one, have two or three open-ended questions or statements in your pocket at all times. Th

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