The last move to make before leaving for the party—
even after you've given yourself final approval in the
mirror—is to turn on the radio news or scan your
newspaper. Anything that happened today is good
material. Knowing the big-deal news of the moment is
also a defensive move that rescues you from putting
your foot in your mouth by asking what everybody's
talking about. Foot-in-mouth is not very tasty in
public, especially when it's surrounded by egg-on-face.
Sidney told me she had a house rule when she was in business.
All of her female "independent contractors" were directed to keep
up with the daily news so they could be good conversationalists
with their clients. This was not just Sidney's whim. Feedback from
her employees had revealed that 60 percent of her girls' work hour
was spent in chatting and only 40 percent in satisfying the customers' needs. Thus she instructed them to read the daily newspaper or listen to a radio broadcast before leaving for an
Technique #23
The Latest News . . . Don't Leave Home
Without It
The last move to make before leaving for the party—
even after you've given yourself final approval in the
mirror—is to turn on the radio news or scan your
newspaper. Anything that happened today is good
material. Knowing the big-deal news of the moment is
also a defensive move that rescues you from putting
your foot in your mouth by asking what everybody's
talking about. Foot-in-mouth is not very tasty in
public, especially when it's surrounded by egg-on-face.
02 (043-92B) part two 8/14/03 9:17 AM Page 90
appointment. Sidney told me when she initiated this rule, her business increased significantly. Reports came back from her clients
complimenting her on the fascinating women she had working for
her. The consummate businesswoman, Ms. Barrows always strove
to exceed her customers' expectations.
Ready for the big leagues of conversation? Let's go.