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43Folders.com is Merlin Mann’s website about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.

Towards being a more entertaining guest

Global Nerdy | How to Work the Room

Joey’s condenses some great tips on going from wallflower to party panda. Number one has always stood me in good stead:

1. Be more of a host and less of a guest. Make introductions and make people more comfortable.”

Totally. Not to get all Burning Man on you here, but any event will only be as good as the people who actively participate in it. People who arrive waiting to be entertained are dead weight, while those who do more than the minimum to make things happen can bring the place to life.

Good trick for house parties: deliberately leave off a few light party preparations so that early arrivers can hang out in the kitchen and help. Wouldn’t you rather cut up carrots than stare at the clam dip feeling like a choad? Exactly.

Also, an old tradition at our house is to give gifts to the first 2 or 3 early arrivers. If you can go, “Hey! Here’s a cheap bottle of wine and ‘Travel Boggle!’” you make people feel more at ease. Then give ‘em a knife, and put ‘em to work.

health-goji's picture

Parties - go with a different mindset.

Too often especially when a business person goes to a party they’re trying too hard to discreetly conduct business, but usually they’re obvious and obnoxious.

Simply go to the party to enjoy yourself, however look for ways to say something good about the people you meet. Listen to them and act interested and they will actually be more apt to be attracted to you. If they get too boring, excuse yourself to the restroom. It’s a party so make it a game to see how many people you can get to really like you by liking them and not just seeing them as a prospective client.

 
EXPLORE 43Folders THE GOOD STUFF

An Oblique Strategy:
Honor thy error as a hidden intention


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The Podcast Feed

Inbox Zero

The original 43 Folders series looking at the skills, tools, and attitude needed to empty your email inbox — and then keep it that way. Don’t miss the free video of Merlin’s Inbox Zero presentation.

Making Time

3-part series on attention management for artists and makers. Read Bad Correspondence, The Job You Think You Have, and One Clear Line.