[ahimel]

Hey all --

I just got a job at a retail store in a nearby mall to get a little extra cash through the holidays, but I'm determined to take more away from this job than a paycheck. Since I'll be meeting hundreds of new people each day, I'd like to practice talking to people I've never met before, making a connection and getting to know them in a short time. I'm a classic introvert (2 friends in elementary school, 2 in middle school, a dozen in high school and half a dozen in college) but I'd like to get better at meeting people.

I'm looking for advice, recommendations, tips, pretty much anything, from those people on these forums who like meeting new people and know how to do it. I know Steve says that Erin says that she just remembers that she already has a connection to these people, and all she has to do is rediscover it. That works for me if I have a long time (30+ minutes) to sit down with them, but does anyone have practical advice for finding the connection in a minute or less?

I'm also terrible at small talk. Ideas?

Thanks!

Amanda