The Art of Mingling

I was lucky enough to get two part-time externships this summer, one in West Jordan and the other in SLC. This means I'll be spending 4-6 hours a week commuting to and from work. Because I would rather not waste that time listening to radio commercials, I'm opting for audio books! I just finished "the Art of Mingling." As an introvert, it can be very hard for me to talk to others in a party setting or in large groups. While I probably won't remember or use every technique this book offers, I would recommend it just for the conversation starters and tips to end a conversation.

For example, today I went to the Costco pharmacy to pick up a prescription. The line was very long and when I joined it, I expected to spend the next 30 minutes in awkward silence. Starting a conversation in a pharmacy line can be difficult, because you have to avoid the most obvious question of, "So what are you here for?" However, as one man remarked on the efficiency of the last pharmacy he went to, I remembered my new-found mingling skills and engaged in a conversation about ways to increase the efficiency in our current line, such as offering fast passes (I can never avoid a Disney reference), having samples along the way, etc.

So the book actually works. Good thing she had a whole section about mingling in line.

Rhetorically,
Rebekah