Hey Baby. What's your Line?

Anyone who's ever been to a bar and started a conversation with a stranger has either asked or been asked the following:


"So what do you do?"


And that's my all time biggest pet peeve.


What do I do? I do a lot of things. I read, I write, I knit, I cook, and, in addition to helping Karen out, I work for a well recognized media outlet that reaches over 26 million people a week. But is that last fact any more relevant than the others?


Sure you can learn a lot about someone by where they work, but it's not entirely indicative of who they are as a person. So why are we so quick to ask a complete stranger what they do for a living?


Here, I suggest other more intriguing questions to be asked the next time you're out at a social scene:


1. What did you write your college application essay about?
2. If you could be named anything else, which name would you choose?
3. If you were a piece of fruit, what would you be and why? (Just be prepared for them to answer with something sugary so they can tell you how "sweet" they are.)
4. Laser jet or ink jet?
5. Aisle seat or window seat?
6. If you were a bumper sticker, what would you say?
7. What's the hardest word for you to spell or pronounce?
8. Do you believe in ghosts and psychics?
9. What's your favorite funny film?
10. Have you ever read the books of Karen Salmansohn? (Hey -- I'm Karen's assistant, so of course I wanna help plug my boss -- so, why not make her a good conversation starter?!)


Basically, there's nothing more impressive to me than someone who can think on their feet. And asking feisty and surprising questions like these really catches people off guard and leaves them with little or no time to react. So not only will you make a killer first impression, but you'll receive truly candid answers. And that's such a wonderful (if not the only) way to really learn who someone is as a person.


Oh, and P.S. If you're wondering what the answer to yesterday's blog riddle is, it's "Those in Heaven feed each other."


Holley Simmons Reporting!

CHEW YOUR MORNING MUFFIN IN MY EAR! Dial 866-LIME-114!

Eeeegads!

It's finally here. My launch week of my NEW DAILY SIRIUS RADIO SHOW, Monday - Friday, 8am - 9am, Eastern Standard Time, on SIRIUS Channel 114 (and streaming later at www.lime.com).

Here's what's I'll be talking about -- and hope you join me in the conversations!

MONDAY, MARCH 12TH

Theme: The love/sex/love show

Behind The Theme: I was going to call it the love/sex show -- but I'm a romantic, and wanted love after sex as well as before!

Lisa Daily - author, Stop Getting Dumped -- on commitment issues -- it can happen to you or someone you can't love (with tips like how to get your man to propose using car salesman techniques!)

Michael Alvear - author, Men Are Pigs, But We Love Bacon -- on sex wreckers -- when what goes down, won't go up - and how to up the chances it will

Lisa McLeod - author Forget Perfect, -- about what's considered healthy compromising in marriage versus what is considered being plain pathetic -- and how to be imperfectly perfectly happy


TUESDAY, MARCH 13

Theme: The Extreme Success Show

Behind The Theme: When you fall on your face, use the leverage to push up HIGHER!

Jon Friedman -- Creator of The Rejection Show

Adam Walden -- presenting GenArt's The Pulse -- the hottest successes right now in fashion, design, film, etc...

Beth Shoenfeldt, Co-Founder, Ladies who Launch, the secrets of successful entrepreneurship -- with a new hot launching lady


WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14

Theme: The world is constantly changing, dont forget to change with it!

Behind The Theme: Trend spotting for your happiest life

Susan Shapiro Barasch - best selling author, The New Wife and Tripping the Prom Queen, on the changing roles of men/women in love/career

Khatun -- my "Be Happy Dammit Blokesperson" -- ranting on "Help! my man is becoming prettier than me" - and how equal rights have created equal beauty obession for both men/women

THURSDAY, MARCH 15

Theme: Get out of your own way, dammit!

Behind The Theme: The Laws of Subtraction + The Laws of Attraction = more happiness

Dr. Mark Goulston - best selling author, Get Out Of Your Own Way

Peg Samuel, Social Diva with Brooke Emery, from the www.attractionboutique.com, secrets for attracting more of what you want in life


FRIDAY

Theme: Create Your Zen Commandments!

Behind The Theme: What are your top personal laws - private promises, unbreakable intergrity practices, moral codes -- which keep your life percolating at its happiest?

Tea For Three, with Miriam Novalle, Tea Connoisseur, and Lori Anderson, fabulous musician/songwriter/singer

Meredith Haberfeld, Handel Group Private Coaching, why knowing your personal laws helps up your happiness

So...

If you're awake at 8am - 9am and curious about these topics, please call me at 866-LIME-114 and rant your views, or raise your questions. In fact, put my SIRIUS numberoin your SPEED DIALS because I want to hear from all of you!

And..

If you want to be a guest on my SIRIUS show, offering your unique tips on how to live a happier life, absolutely write me at info@notsalmon.com!

CAREER TIP: ARE YOU ANNOYING?

Just as it’s hard to tell if you have ink on your face, it’s hard to tell if you have egg on your face from saying embarrassing or irritating things during business meetings.

Brian Tannebaum, an attorney and frequent speaker on the topic of how to develop stronger business relationships, suggests you hold up the following “mirror of questions” to yourself – so you can suss out if you have annoying habits which might be getting in the way of creating better business bonds.

1. Do you go on a wee bit too much about your wee ones? Tannebaum advises: “It’s great to express you love your kids - but don't overdo the talk about how great their school is -- or their every single extra-special extra curricular activity. Not only can it be annoying, you might accidently sound like your kid’s success is the only success you have.”

2. Do you ask too many meaningless questions and talk in too many catch phrases? Tannebaum advises: “Please don't a. tell me how fast last year went by. (It was 12 months. 365 days.), or b. ask me if I'm ‘ready for 2007?’ Does it really matter? It's here, whether I'm ready or not.”

3. Do you always mention the same person/place/story – a la Groundhog Day – every time you see this person/group? Tannebaum advises: “Get some new material.”

4. Do you talk in monotonous-o-logue? Tannebaum advises: “Keep your stories short. Remember, you are in a meeting to listen -- and not just to yourself.”

5. Do you ignore your true business buddies? Tannebaum advises: “Be careful you don’t overgreet others, when your true business buddy is standing there waiting to be graced by your acknowledgement. Say hello to the friend first -- otherwise, you're a jerk. (Not really, but think of yourself that way, and you'll always do the right thing).”

6. Do you make bad calls about when to take those calls? Tannebaum asks:”Do you really need to be standing in a corner talking on your cell? Ditto on text messaging.”