 There are moments when I start conversation with humor, but a lot of time I don't start conversation with humor because I am not a stand-up comedian situational humor can be very difficult So to alleviate some of the pressure you may be hearing of like well AJ. I'm just not funny AJ I don't have these witty zingers. We don't have to start conversation that way Conversation actually starts with something much simpler and these are baby steps, but it's simply Taking some curiosity in someone else and the way we can do that is in the form of a question Asking someone something about themselves and Johnny, what's everyone's favorite topic? Well, it's themselves Right, we could talk on this podcast and we have in episodes past for hours about ourselves We're well versed in who we are what we're about and what we're about to do So when we are choosing to start that conversation to break the ice one of the most effective tools that we've found Scientifically speaking to spark that curiosity and interest in the other person is for us to take interest first For us to showcase some curiosity by asking them a question about themselves like what are you drinking? What do you like so much about this place? What's going on in your life? What are you up to these days? These questions all put a focus and emphasis on the other person who are they? What are they about? What are they up to allows them a very easy way to respond? So when we're thinking about asking questions to start the conversation I want to make this important caveat that we're not looking to make these questions Complicated and drawn out that require a lengthy explanation We're breaking the ice by picking some simple easy things for the other person to engage with us with and here's the thing We always know what we're drinking. We always know what we're up to we always know why we're out Right, these are simple questions for the other person to ask So we're looking for simple ways to showcase our curiosity or interest in the other person and in return They start to take interest in us