THE LAWS OF BUSINESS ATTRACTION

In business, I believe the more people you know, the luckier you will be.

For this reason, it’s important to regularly go to conferences, join organizations, be active in various sports, go to parties.

The biggest job breaks often get started outside the office.

And because I want to make sure you get it right when you meet Mr. or Ms. Huge Business Opportunity, I asked my friend Gretchen Rubin, who's the creator of the happiness-project.com, to share with me on my Sirius/Lime radio show her top tips on making a good first impression. Here are the cliff notes on what she told me:

Studies show people tend to give more weight to what happens at the start of a conversation -- than to later information shared. So be your most charming at the onset. Use your best material first!

Focus on positive commentary. Keep in mind Neural Linguistic studies show that the adjectives you use in conversation often get subconsciously associated with you. So if you describe someone else as “brilliant, warm, generous,” your listener will associate you with these same qualities.

If standing, keep your body fully facing the other person. If possible, face your heart zone opposite their heart zone. Turning partly away shows a lack of commitment to the conversation.

Avoid “eye stray.”

Quickly seek out common experiences or shared interests.

Don’t just ask questions -- follow up on people’s remarks

Focus on opinions and feelings -- not just facts.

Don’t be single-word minded. Avoid questions which can be answered with a single word. Don’t answer with a single word.

Avoid conversation interruptus. Let people finish their thoughts.

Sprinkle your conversation with revealed vulnerabilities.

Put energy in your voice and animation in your expression.

People are especially attracted to people who smile a lot. So flash those pearly whites.

Fran Leibowitz joked, “The opposite of talking isn’t listening. It’s waiting.” Prove Fran wrong. Actively listen. Remember: it’s more important to be interested - than interesting.