You Look Like You Do Something Interesting... What a Great Opening Line

 
Here is a photo of Fashion Designer, Libby Payne in the early 70's as she was speeding through Venice on a water taxi on a European style trip.

 Her daughter, Holly English-Payne who I met last week when I spoke at the Connect to Care meeting sent me this great photo and this story about her wonderful Mother.

As she said, "I was reminded of my mother who never knew the term "Networking", yet she was a genius at it. Her favorite gambit was to walk up to someone at a party and say, "You look like you do something interesting". Rarely was she unrewarded because people were charmed by this introduction and after hearing what a person did, she would immediately figure out a connection with someone else in the room.

"You should mee...." Very few could resist my mother's southern charm and many benefited from the connections she engineered."

I told Holly how much I loved her Mom's story and also what a powerful net-worker she was:

*She took the initiative and creatively introduced herself to others

*She had a great opener and hook and was able to get other people talking about themselves

*She then made other connections for them

Holly-- you are right-- "Your Mom, Libby was right on!"

Comments

[Larry Geimer]

A truly fascinating story and one of the great lines of all times to introduce yourself

[Penny Payne]

Thank you for the lovely acknowledgement of Mom.
Having followed in her footsteps in the Fashion Industry, and being in situations where I was in a roomful of people from all walks of life, yet not knowing anyone - OR, used in the reverse -wanting to make a person who doesn't know anyone in the room feel comfortable, I have used this opening line often, all over the world.

If nothing else, it makes ME feel comfortable and in control of my situation in the room.

But my sister is correct: it almost always gets a really positive response, and usually leads to great conversation. This works in business and personal situations.

Libby Payne's legacy of warmth and joy of living, gave us that line!

Penny Payne, Fabric & Notions Editor, McCall Pattern Company Fabric Library