"So what do you do?"

Have you ever been out with friends and someone brings a new person in the group that you have not met before, Or have you ever been to a networking function with co-workers and meet someone new from a different floor? Usually, there is the dreaded small talk that happens to fill in the silence and, it often starts with “so what do you do? Or what do you do for fun?”; in the past, I would answer with what my day profession is, “I work at X company as an Engineer” or the response to the latter question would be, “I like to just hang out at home and watch Netflix with the family”. What I have realized is when I respond to those questions in that fashion, I have left a potential opportunity on the table. What potential opportunity might that be?

The opportunity that is left on the table, is the opportunity to tell someone brand new about your business. That person may not do anything for you after you share the projects that you are working on or they may respond with “that is interesting, tell me more” or, better yet they might respond with “I know someone who would be interested in what you are doing”, the potential answers can vary based on the individual you are talking to but nonetheless every person you connect with, is a potential private money lender, a partner or a connection that may bring more individuals to you which in turn allows you to promote your business and find out how those new connections can help you succeed.

I have been trying this tactic for the last few weeks and I have realized that when I respond to those familiar small talk question with “ I am a real estate investor and I buy multi-family properties to hold long term” the energy in the room tends to shift and the conversation veers towards more serious topics such as financial literacy, building wealth and the ability to have the freedom to support your passions whereas in the past the topics would be the usuals; pop culture, shows that are popular on the streaming platforms and the latest viral videos. Once the conversation shifts, you can identify the individuals in the room who have a similar mindset that you do and might also be on the entrepreneur journey.

This is a numbers game, like everything else hence the more new people you can meet the more you can promote what it is that you are doing. As I mentioned earlier, I just started doing this when I am around new people so I will keep you all updated on how this goes after I keep doing it for a few months. Small talk should no longer be seen as a way to kill time or fill dead space but rather an opportunity to present to the room exactly what you are doing and what potential partners you may need to help succeed and achieve your goals. Next time you are out having dinner with friends and family, think about how you respond to the question, "so what you been up to lately"?