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From Chad Foster’s Teenagers: Preparing for the Real World

 

v     In addition to what you’re learning in school, there are certain skills that will greatly improve your chances of succeeding in the real world. These skills are communication skills, networking skills, and people skills.

 

v     The more people you meet, the better your chances of succeeding will be, regardless of which career you ultimately choose. People do business with people they know, with people they like, and with their friends. Strangers come last on the list. That’s why it’s so important for young people to meet as many people as they can.

 

v     Some of you may not be comfortable with the idea of meeting new people. Don’t let this concern you. Making contacts is a skill that you develop over time. “Develop” is the key word here. Like any skill, this one takes practice to improve. It’s not a game. You can’t win or lose and no on is keeping score. The secret to making contacts at an early age is simple. You must make an effort to meet new people every day. You can meet these people everywhere: at school, church, camp, the mall, the park, at home, at concerts, on planes, at restaurants, etc. The list goes on and on. Meet all kinds of people: old, young, rich, poor, black, white, etc. The more you meet, the more you grow. The more diversity in contacts you make, the more you will learn, and the more valuable your contacts will be.

 

v     Don’t be afraid to talk to people you don’t know especially those who are older than you. I know you probably grew up just like I did, with everyone telling you not to talk to strangers. That was bad advice. They should have told us not to talk to strange strangers. There are a lot of people you don’t know yet that you need to talk to. These are the people who can help you achieve your dreams and reach your goals. Remember, nobody succeeds in business on their own. Nobody succeeds without help. Now is the time to start talking to strangers. Stop and think about it. Everyone you know today was a stranger before you met them, right?

 

v     The formula is simple. The more people you meet, the more you learn, and the more interesting you become. Likewise, the more interesting you are, the easier it will be to meet people. 

 

v     Don’t be intimidated by people you find yourself in conversation with, regardless of their age, position, wealth, or intellect. Adults enjoy talking to younger people. You can keep a conversation going with anyone just by asking them simple questions. And then just listen to the answer to get you idea for the next question. Almost every conversation begins with a question, and no conversation ever ends with one. You can never ask too many questions. Always remember:

§         People like to answer questions. It makes them feel important.

§         People like to talk about themselves, whether they admit it or not.

 

v     Remember, older people are anxious to talk to younger people. They don’t expect your questions to be complex or complicated. This isn’t about testing your intelligence; it’s about learning to communicate. Try it on one of your friends’ parents. Try it on one of your parents’ friends. These will be the easiest adults to talk to since you already know them. Practice on them until you are comfortable with the process, they try it on a few people you don’t know very well. Like anything else, the more you practice, the easier it becomes.