clear.your.mind

This week I was looking for a way of build my network through the web; of course, I cannot travel to the united states every week to make contacts so I have to relay on the Internet. I’ve meet very interesting people, like Liz from Successful-blog and couple of guys, including current and past clients; but I want more (I always want more, I’m fat, don’t blame me!)
So I came across with this terrific, amazingly easy to read article write by Guy Kawasaki called The ARt of Schmoozing. WOW, I can say just that.

For some of you folks this may seem common sense because you know everything (why you people aren’t for president? can’t understand…) but for me, is a true eye opener and I intend to yell about that very loud, so cover your ears.

The Art of Schmoozing sounds even like a book title; it’s great piece of reading. I will list some of the points Guy described for you:

• Ask good questions, then shut up. The mark of a good conversationalist is not that you can talk a lot. The mark is that you can get others to talk a lot. Thus, good schmoozers are good listeners, not good talkers. Ask softball questions like, “What do you do?” “Where are you from?” “What brings you to this event?” Then listen. Ironically, you’ll be remembered as an interesting person.
• Read voraciously. In order to be a good schmoozer, you need to read voraciously–and not just the EE Times, PC Magazine, and the Wall Street Journal. You need a broad base of knowledge so that you can access a vast array of information during conversations. Even if you are a pathetic passionless person, you can at least be a well-read one who can talk about a variety of topics.
• Give favors. One of my great pleasures in life is helping other people; I believe there’s a big Karmic scoreboard in the sky. God is keeping track of the good that you do, and She is particularly pleased when you give favors without the expectation of return from the recipient. The scoreboard always pays back. You can also guess that I strongly believe in returning favors for people who have helped you.

Excellent article Mr Kawasaki, maybe you need to consider writing a book or something ;-)