WhaHappen?

Since it’s Valentine’s Day, I’m providing a public service to those out there who just need a little advice on how to kick-start their mojo. I may be married and a little rusty on the flirtation thing, but I’ve done my research (everything I know I’ve learned from reading, including MAD Magazines).

So here’s the most important first step – shy people, I’m talking to you. Let’s say you’re at a party and you’re standing around trying to look comfortable, but feeling rather pathetic. Just casually look around, then:

• Acquire your target. When you see someone that gets your shwing on, don’t do the hip movement. Just see if you can catch his/her eye.
• Make eye contact and use your friendly expression.
• Hold a 2-second gaze. DO NOT mouth the count “1 – one thousand, 2 – one thousand.”
• Look away briefly. Use this moment to quickly scan the other side of the room so as not to miss other potential targets.
• Then look back and this is important – make sure he/she sees you doing it.
• And smile or now you can mouth “hi.” (No bizarre tongue spasms please.)

It’s very basic and you have to orchestrate the timing so it all flows. It’ll take on-the-job training (so doing it in front of a mirror doesn’t count), but you’ll have skills in no time.

It’s also helpful if you have the requisite wing-man/side-chick to cover you, so that he or she a) can prompt you when to “look back” and b) tell you if your target’s “just not that into you.” You have to use common sense. If said target walks across the room and hooks up with his/her date, abort the mission and remain on recon.

This is a really portable tactic that can be used on a bus, at the park, at the bookstore. The worst that can happen is that person might not respond. So what? It’s just practice. The point is that you have to let them know that you’re interested and friendly. How else would others sense that you’re approachable? People are waiting exactly for this type of “Open For Business” signal from others.

But remember, this is just the first step. The Approach & Capture is a whole other matter that I’ll address in another post. So, try out this technique first and let me know how it works out for you. Or if you use other tactics in your playbook, please share freely. Help us all improve our game.

Related Post:
Laughter in the Rain