Give Yourself A Gift...RELAX!

Most of us are starting to feel a bit overwhelmed by this point. As our everyday responsibilities converge with all of the extra things we do to prepare for the holiday season, we often risk losing our sense of wonder.

Invitations to gatherings with friends, co-workers and even strangers can be less than inviting if you don't consider yourself a sparkling conversationalist. Pressure to talk about current events and personal opinions can be daunting, and even boring, frankly.

If the thought of having to attend another seasonal soiree is making you feel like you might be coming down with something, something very contagious...can I make a suggestion? R-E-L-A-X.

Silver and Gold...And other Precious Things

Recently I was teaching my two year-old twin granddaughters, Lily and Abbie, a little song I learned in Girl Scouts years ago. "Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold." The truly precious things in life are people and the relationships we enjoy with them. 

Let me share a more relaxing approach for surviving holiday get togethers.

Many of us are programmed into thinking we have to rev up our self promotion techniques any time we have the opportunity to be around new people. Instead of rehearsing how to successfully market yourself in less than a minute, show more interest in those you are meeting. Be genuine. Ask questions. The kind of questions that say you really do care about their answers.

Inevitably, conversations turn to familiar inquiries like "So, what do you do for a living?" or "How is your business making out in this economy?" Why not keep those answers brief and take a more personal approach by asking...  

"So, how did you get into this line of work?"  

"Is this what you originally thought you might be doing?"  

"If you could do something for a living that really utilized your gifts and talents, what would that be? "

Questions like these get to the heart of a person and often result in stimulating and fun discussions.

Whether you wind up talking about their kids, what they like to do on weekends, or their favorite reality show, what really matters is that you have made a connection. You took the time to get to know someone a little bit better.

From a business perspective, just remember...when people sense someone is genuine and comfortable in their own skin, they are far more likely to consider your services when the need arises. If it seems appropriate, it is always worthwhile to continue the relationship by sending a handwritten note or an e-mail.

Many of the people I have "networked" with over the years have resulted in mutually beneficial professional associations. Many others have become friends.   

"Silver and Gold" are always good investments.

Wishing you and your family a  

holiday season filled with joy and wonder.  

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