Talk to Strangers: How Everyday, Random Encounters Can Expand Your Business, Career, Income, and Life

Connect with Others in Your Everyday World and Discover the Enormous Potential That Awaits You! Through his groundbreaking networking technique, entrepreneur and communication expert David Topus shows how everyday random encounters can expand your life in ways you could never have predicted—if you know how to make them happen and leverage the connection. David, who has built his million–dollar consulting practice through the people he has met in unplanned encounters, shares his insights and secrets for turning complete strangers into profitable business and personal relationships. David′s message is that we should go beyond online contacts and establish relationship–rich, in–person connections through random, everyday interactions that hold unlimited potential to supercharge your business, accelerate your career, and enrich your life. In Talk to Strangers , you will discover: How and why there is opportunity in the people you meet wherever you go The four key beliefs of successful random connectors Techniques for penetrating the veil of isolation many people have Methods for turning new associations into relationship–rich connections Ways to create comfort and trust quickly with complete strangers Tips for optimizing and monetizing your newly established contacts The world around you represents a huge opportunity. In Talk to Strangers , you′ll find the serendipitous, life–expanding potential of turning random encounters into mutually profitable relationships.

Acknowledgments vii Guide to Charts, Tables, and Lists ix Introduction xi SECTION I Creating Your Future Through the People You Haven’t Even Met . . . Yet 1 Chapter 1 The Untapped Potential in Your Everyday Encounters 3 Chapter 2 New Faces in New Places 9 Chapter 3 Get Out of Your Comfort Zone 15 Chapter 4 Schmooze or Lose 21 Chapter 5 The Limits of Online Connections 25 Chapter 6 When Traditional Networking Is Not Working 29 Chapter 7 Face It: Nothing Beats the Chemistry of In– Person Communication 33 Chapter 8 Anonymity—A Random Connector’s Greatest Advantage 37 Chapter 9 We’re All Connected 39 Chapter 10 The Four Beliefs of Successful Random Connectors 43 SECTION II Turning Random Encounters Into Mutually Beneficial Relationships 51 Chapter 11 Find Clues to Initiate Conversation 53 Chapter 12 Avoid Judging People From a Distance 57 Chapter 13 Don’t be Overeager 59 Chapter 14 Seize the Moment 65 Chapter 15 Get on Their Wavelength 75 Chapter 16 The Importance of Authenticity and Curiosity 83 Chapter 17 Focus on Your New Connection 89 Chapter 18 Discover the Buried Treasure 95 Chapter 19 Leave No Stone Unturned 99 Chapter 20 Be Clear on Your Own Value Proposition 107 Chapter 21 Position Yourself as an Expert 113 Chapter 22 If Nothing There, Catch and (Respectfully) Release 117 SECTION III Leveraging the Connection 119 Chapter 23 Map the Road to Opportunity 121 Chapter 24 Build Your Momentum and Credibility With a Follow–up 127 Chapter 25 From Unplanned Meeting to Monetized Connection: A Case Study 133 Chapter 26 Create a Basis for Continued Contact 137 Chapter 27 Add Velocity to the Relationship 141 Chapter 28 Success—Desired Leverage Achieved! 147 Chapter 29 Be Google–ready 149 SECTION IV Gender– Neutral Random Connecting 153 SECTION V Mastery Insights and the Talk to Strangers Mastery Program 165 Conclusion 183 Index 185

David Topus is a mega–connector, opportunity builder, and internationally recognized business communications innovator, trainer, and thought leader. He has conceived, developed, and marketed millions of dollars worth of intellectual content for some of the most influential Fortune 500 corporations in the world. As President of TOPUS, with the trademarked tagline "Turning Reputations into Revenue," David has helped dozens of companies, thousands of salespeople, and hundreds of senior executives to define and articulate their value propositions more effectively. Today, his expertise is sought by companies, associations, and individuals across the country and around the world.