Stuck In An Elevator with Oprah

I have a crazy imagination! Yesterday on my daily walk, I was thinking about “what if I got stuck in an elevator with Oprah for 10 minutes…what would I want to talk to her about?”

All kinds of things went through my mind, from telling her about my books and workshops (hint, hint, put me on your show) to “what’s life with Steadman really like?” “Is he your soulmate?”

As I kept pondering this, I went back to some communications training I did 30 years ago where we were taught that the first thing to do when you meet someone new (yes, I’ve met Oprah before when I was a publicist, backstage at her show, but I don’t expect her to remember me), is to get into “rapport.”

Rapport, meaning to have this person feel comfortable around you. Not in any kind of manipulative NLP way where I am going to try and sell you something, but rather in a human to human, heart to heart kind of way.

I think I would most likely tell her how much I enjoy reading about her love of her dogs and engage her in a conversation about our spiritual connection to our pets. Maybe I would even share with her that my favorite meditation is with Felix, my twenty-pound tuxedo cat. Felix and I have a daily ritual where we stare deep into each other’s eyes for several minutes and I can feel him pouring love into my soul.

In a very short amount of time, Oprah would learn two very important things about me – I love animals and I am interested in spirituality.

For those of you who are dating and meeting new people, I

know those first conversations can be awkward and difficult, so it might be wise to think about a few  openers or conversation starters you can use that will put you and your date, at ease.

Here are a few examples:

If you are a “foodie” you could ask, “what and where was the best thing you’ve ever tasted?” (Mine was a milk chocolate Pot de Crème at Slanted Door in San Francisco)

If you love travel you could ask “if time and money weren’t a factor, where would you most like to watch a sunset?” (I would have a dozen answers for this one including from a rooftop Greek restaurant in Santorini)

If you love movies ask, “which movie have you seen more than twice?” (For me that would be Legally Blonde!)

Got the idea? Plan now, so you’ll be ready to intentionally make the conversation fun and creative!

Wishing you love, laughter & magical kisses,

Arielle