Ok, so I am new to this community. I got Style's book and I have completed the first task. I would appreciate any feedback and I hope that in time I can contribute to this community in a positive fashion.

Mission 3: Operation small talk
Talk to 5 people.

1. Today I went through a drive through coffee stand, I actually said more than just, "I want a xxx drink." Can't really remember how I started the conversation but I said something playful, perhaps a little silly, she laughed and told me what she thought about the weather (cloudy).

2. Tried to start a conversation with a Starbucks waitress. It should not be too surprising that she was pretty busy, but I figured… what the hell? you only live once. I remarked at how she enjoyed grinding coffee (don't ask). I guess that was the closest that came to so called "rejection." It was not bad. It was fun.

3. There was another woman that I started a conversation with at Starbucks, she was at her computer using starbuck's wifi. (Old woman) I commented on her computer and she talked back to me. I said that I have been to starbucks whose wifi was not working (not true that I know of…). She was nobody that I would ever would have liked to pursue.

4. Black woman from my apartment complex, she was dragging a wheel case, she came up to a big puddle and lifted her bag and looked at me, at that point I had no excuse not to talk to her (I initiated) so I said, something along the lines of, "hello, where are you going?" She said she was going to celebrate father's day. So I said I was doing the same (this IS true).

5. My fifth one was a disaster (please criticize, me I deserve it). I wanted to go to the mall, but I had to go home to celebrate fathers day. So I figured that I would stop off at Safeway. Now if I were smart (brave?) I would have went in there guns blazing and started talking to the nearest person. (How would you guys handle this?) To make matters worse, I actually saw a drop dead gorgeous woman and I didn't even walk up to her and utter a word. I don't even care if she blew me out of the stars, I already experienced rejection and it is not bad at all. There is no excuse for me not to approach. Finally I ended up just talking to a guy at a counter since I had to go home.

What I learned, God knows how long it is going to take to nail this into my head, use the 3 SECOND RULE!!! Every time I do not use it, I sound weak or the situation changes to my detriment. When I DO use it, I sound assertive and quick minded and things flow a lot better.

All in all, I am pretty happy with the day, some things were not cool. But I made it through and I accomplished the tasks.

Comments and suggestions are always appreciated.

Best,

ChrisyRich

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