Better Conversations Newsletter
"Raising the Standard of Conversation in Life"
Dr. Loren EkrothLoren Ekroth, Ph.D.
 
aka "Dr.Conversation" 
Free Lunch
Loren Ekroth photo
Today's Contents
"The Art of Conversation"
Conversation Quotation
Jest Words
Word-a-Week
Things I Wish I'd Said
Resourceville
Words of Inspiration
Article: Free Lunch
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This Week's Issue:
November 9, 2011

Hello again, subscriber friend!

 

Today: Free Lunch.  How?

Read on to find out.

Loren Ekroth, publisher 

[email protected]

This Week's Contents
  1. "Art of Conversation" in Las Vegas!
  2. Conversation Quotation
  3. Jest Words
  4. Word-a-Week
  5. Things I Wish I'd said
  6. Resourceville
  7. Words of Inspiration
  8. Article: Free Lunch
1. "The Art of Conversation" in Las Vegas!

The show will go on! And it's free to the public. If you live in Las Vegas Valley, you might enjoy this evening of "edutainment."  From 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at 4325 N. Rancho Drive, Suite 110, Las Vegas, NV 89130.  (Nearest cross street is Craig Rd.) 

 Here's the program:  

●You'll experience how to turn a conversation from "me" to "we."

●You'll learn how to easily remember the names of strangers you meet.

●You will learn 4 items of background others most want to know about you.

●You will meet interesting people and make new friends while talking about fascinating topics instead of the usual small talk.

Notes:  1. I know that most subscribers do not reside in this area.  If you live elsewhere, you can host an event.

2.   If you have friends in the Las Vegas area, please tell them about this program. 

3.   Subscribers in the Las Vegas area are encouraged to bring their friends.

You can help me by letting me know how many in your group will attend.  That way I can be sure to have enough learning guides for each person who shows up.  Send number to [email protected].

2.   Conversation Quotation

 

"Taking people for granted is a form of ingratitude."

                 -- Dr Mardy Grothe

 

3.  Jest Words


"The doctor must have put my pacemaker in wrong. Every time my husband kisses me, the garage door goes up." --Minnie Pearl

4.  Word-a-Week:  factoid (noun)

Pronunciation:  FAK-toyd

 

1.  an invented fact believed to be true because it appears in print.

 

Example sentence:  Yes, many people still believe that "if it's printed, it must be true."  But much of what is printed consists of factoids.

 

5. Things I Wish I'd Said  

 

"Your position never gives you the right to command. It only imposes on you the duty of so living your life that others can receive your orders without being humiliated."

 

--Dag Hammarsjkold, Swedish diplomat, 1905-1961

 

6.  Resourceville:  The English Language

 

A History of the English Language in 10 Minutes

 

http://tiny.cc/ecozj

 

Great fun, great learning!

7.  Words of Inspiration

"You find yourself refreshed by the presence of cheerful people. Why not make an honest effort to confer that pleasure on others? Half the battle is gained if you never allow yourself to say anything gloomy." 

 

--Julia Child, 1912-2004

8.  Article:  Free Lunch

Lunch is a fine time to have a good conversation with a friend. Good food enhances your time together and dining can slow down and make your talk more meaningful.

 

Now, who gets the free lunch? Why, the guest you invite, of course. Who might that be? Here are some possibilities:

  1. An old friend with whom you've been out of contact. Invite them to lunch for a time to catch up on each other's life.
  2. An elderly friend or relative that, due to infirmities of age or lack of transportation, finds it difficult to get out to socialize.
  3. A person new to your workplace. When you befriend such a person by treating them to lunch and a conversation, you'll help them move from newcomer to one of the team.
  4. A retired person who helped you along the way, such as a teacher, professor, cleric, or mentor. If they are no longer professionally active, you can show them they still matter to you.
  5. An interesting person you know only slightly from a club or association. Spending an hour or two allows you both to have a deeper, more personal relationship.
  6. Someone you know who is struggling with finances due to loss of a job, home foreclosure, health care bills, student tuition costs, etc. In the U.S. alone, millions of people have stopped dining out because they cannot afford the cost. (Of course, you must be tactful when inviting them and paying the bill so that you don't tamper with their self-regard.)

These are a few possibilities you can consider, and there are others. As well, if lunch is inconvenient, invite for breakfast or dinner. The main thing is to provide and enjoyable experience with enough time to talk.

Now here is some good "free lunch" news. Because you are online, you are no doubt aware of many dining bargains. For example, sites like www.groupon.com and www.livingsocial.com offer daily discount coupons for most cities. Most of those are 50% off the dining bill, or coupons are offered as 2-for-1 meals.

 

One of my favorite sources for discounts is the Entertainment Book of coupons. Each year I save several hundred dollars on dining out and on many other routine expenses such as oil changes, dry cleaning, and rental cars. (My 2012 book for Las Vegas has $15,500 of discount coupons.) Entertainment offers 149 editions of their 2012 book for different cities and regions in North America, each at a modest cost of $30. If you purchase a book (valid until Nov. 2012) and put in a code for my Conversation Matters Press that publishes this newsletter, I will get a small commission to help defray my costs in sending it out twice each week.

 

To review the discounts for your city, go to www.Entertainment.com/support and enter my number, 962976. If you purchase one or more books, Conversation Matters will be credited with the sale to receive a commission to support this no-cost newsletter.

 

(Another thought: You might wish to consider buying a discount book as a gift for a friend or relative or a student away at school. Each year I give a book to my 3 siblings and some friends, and they all appreciate the savings.)

 

Until next week,

 

Loren 

 

P.S.  If you like this issue, please share it with a friend.  You can do this by using the "Forward this email to a friend" link.

Loren Ekroth �2011, all rights reserved


Loren Ekroth, Ph.D. is a specialist in human communication and a national expert on conversation for business and social life. 


Contact at [email protected]