Tracey Bennett
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Article
How to, Um, You Know, Like Spoil a Conversation
Last week I was listening to this, you know, podcast. The topic interested me: it was, you know, how to set goals. And one of the two speakers sprinkled, like, empty words as frequently as I am, you know, doing right now. Listening for the goal-getting gems was, you know, like panning for gold. Nuggets were there, just hidden in a stream of, you know, like, distracting pebbles. Enough examples? Point made? What to do about it? If you don't care how you communicate, and your f
March 29, 2011
Article
10 Tips to Write a Great Thank-You Note
Do you know how to write a great thank-you note? You will when you follow these ten tips. It's easy. Here's your incentive: The better you write, the more great gifts you'll get. It's the Law of Attraction in action. Be sure to use my my Secret Knock-It-Out-Of-the-Park Tip to make the giver feel great. 1. Be speedy.rnIf the gift of flowers has turned to mulch, you're writing too late. My friend Beverly was at the other extreme: On Christmas afternoon her mother sat her down a
January 4, 2011
Article
Good Conversation Starters: What to Do When Your Great Ice Breaker Fails to Start Conversation
Your great ice breaker just melted on the floor. Do you know how to recover when your ice breaker fails to start conversation? Follow these two tips and you'll successfully talk to men or women every time. The Ice Breaker That Belly Flopped As a new member of the National Association of Pen Women, I don't know many people in my chapter. No problem. Since I'm the Queen of Conversation, I always have a batch of good conversation starters ready to go. Sitting at the lunch table
November 18, 2010
Article
Great Conversation Topics: 3 Strategies to Enjoy Conversations With a Crabby Person
Even great conversation topics can lead into dark alleys when you're talking to a grump. Nobody likes to talk to a whiny, crabby person. But sometimes you gotta. Maybe you feel obligated. Maybe sheâs your mother or your monster-in-law. Chin up! You can dump that urge to smash the phone to smithereens. A handful of great conversation topics can turn a whine-fest into a winning conversation, one you both can enjoy. My favorite crabby person isnât my mom. Itâs her best fri
November 18, 2010
Article
12 Awful First Date Tips: Drink Chablis With a Straw
Wondering what to do on a first date? Here are 12 awful ways to impress a woman. Good first date tips include conversation on first date, flirting & etiquette. Thatâs just silly. Women readers: see if your dates have pulled these stunts on youâ¦.er, I mean, perhaps you could pick up some tips, too. So-called experts say that these are things not to do on a romantic first date. Nuts to them. Set the tone of the relationship right from the start by being yourself. Always bei
November 13, 2010
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"We Need to Talk" - How to Start a Difficult Conversation with a Partner, Colleague or Neighbor
Relationships are like shoes. Sometimes they fit, and sometimes they cause annoying, painful blisters. For example, your partner doesn't call when running late; your colleague at work taps his pencil incessantly; and a neighbor trashes your yard. Sometimes you need to confront the offender and get it off your chest. How do you start a difficult conversation about relationship issues without making the situation worse? Here are two tips to help resolve relationship conflicts w
November 12, 2010
Article
First Date Conversation Tips: 9 Horrible, Awful Conversation Topics and What to Talk About Instead
1. Your Pet Peeves Drivers who cut you off in traffic. Long lines at airport security. (Yawn.) You might as well get a forehead tattoo that says BORING WHINER. On the other hand, if you can tell a story about an impatient traveler who convinced 43 people to let him or her cut in line, then youâre out of boring territory and into the land of intrigue. Especially if youâre that traveler. 2. Gripes About Your Job Your dates donât want to hear what a pain in the ankle your
November 12, 2010
Article
Conversation Tips: What to Do When You Forget Someoneâs Name
Youâve just met this person at the office, and 2 minutes into the conversation, oops! Her name flies out the window of your memory. When youâre talking to your neighbor, you forget her name, too. Welcome to the club. What are you going to do now? Begin With These 3 Tips: 1. Stay calm.rn2. Remember that forgetting names happens to everyone, and everyone is likely to forgive your lapse.rn3. As much as you can, stay involved in the conversation. We tend to leave it while we
November 12, 2010
Article
Starting a Great Conversation: Your New Best Friend or Lover Could Be One Question Away
Think about the people you see all the time. How well do you know them? You could be missing out on great conversation or making a good friend. Use great conversation questions to get people to tell you their stories. People will tell you amazing stories when you care enough to ask. Your new best friend could be one question away. Letâs Start With Ruth My elderly friend Ruth lives in Florida. When we talk on the phone, she complains about her blindness and her health troubl
November 12, 2010
Article
How to Flirt and Start a Conversation With âWhatâs Your Sign?â
Starting a conversation with men and women is easy. Follow these tips and âWhatâs your sign?â will lead from casual talk to flirting to genuine first-date conversation. The conversation starter âWhatâs your sign?â had its heyday in the 60â²s when the musical Hair turned everyoneâs attention to the Age of Aquarius. Nowadays, it can be a trite conversation topic for couples. It could lead only to small talk. Thereâs one exception though: If youâre slightly kn
November 12, 2010
Article
Good Conversation Starters - How to Start a Conversation With the Cliche "Haven't We Met Before?"
A good conversation starter is like a car engine. If you don't have one, you aren't going anywhere. When can you say, "Haven't we met before?" without sounding like a cliché? There is a way to turn this ancient ice breaker into a good conversation starter without sounding common as dirt, dry as dust, and strictly for the birds. Or worse, like a failed pickup artist. There is a way to turn an old pickup line into a good impression. Can you start a good conversation with a cli
August 5, 2009
Article
Have You Mastered This Essential Conversation Skill: How to Change the Subject?
Have you been at the mercy of a bore or windbag? Did you want to change the subject and talk about something interesting? You can. And when your date or interviewer asks questions you don't want to answer, you can deftly change the subject and talk about something else. Media trainers have a name for this conversation technique: bridging. I learned this handy switcheroo tool from an unlikely source. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (yes, the Beatles' guru), told this story about being i
August 5, 2009
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