Use your Conversational GPS*.

Your Conversational GPS is built into your brain cells but needs to be self-activated.

Your Conversational GPS Directions:

Step one: You are talking about your family, your trip to India, your business achievements.

Step two: As you talk (and talk) quietly ask yourself – “Is this interesting to anyone but me?”

Step three: Self monitor the answer to Step Two. Either A) Listener asks you questions, B) Listener smiles and has good eye contact, or C) Listener appears passive and not that interested.

Step four: IF you picked “C” – stop talking – go immediately to a “power close”. IF you picked “A” or “B” – keep talking BUT not for long. Why? According to Carolyn Hax, writer and columnist for the Washington Post, “Unless you’re a gifted storyteller, your travels and success stories are fascinating to precisely one population: the people who participate in them, if that.”

Trying to put this advice to use is not easy. You have to activate your internal Conversational GPS and follow the above instructions – or you’ll get “lost” – in that you will lose your listener.

After returning from a recent great trip to India I’ve tried to employ Hax’s “Conversational GPS”. After taking 927 photos I narrowed the pics down to my four favs. And that’s it! Those are the ONLY ones I show. Three brave souls (out of lots of people who asked about this trip) landed in groups A and B. I loved sharing more photos and stories with Robin, Esther and Patty – thank you!

*Source: Carolyn Hax, “Separating joy from bragging” – Washington Post Writers Group, printed in Dallas Morning News 10-5-14.

© photo – 123RF Stock Photography

Ps: Your Conversational GPS can be activated on all written material as well, like this blog…

Karen Cortell Reisman, M.S., author of 3 books and President of Speak For Yourself®, works with decision makers on how to speak with gravitas. It’s all in how you speak for yourself. Karen also speaks about her cousin, Albert Einstein, in a message about hope, resilience and brassieres.

Read more at www.SpeakForYourself.com/blog