• Find out everything you can about those who will be attending: Where are they from? What do they do? What are their interests? This is what you can talk to them about.
  
  
• Wear something that people can talk about; anything that will draw attention and inspire people to approach you. What do you have that would be a good conversation starter?
  
  
• Read a couple of mainstream newspapers just before the event so that you can use the headlines as icebreakers. The more conversation fuel you have, the easier it will be to get a conversation going.
  
  
• Get there
  early: This gives you the opportunity to warm up slowly as the other guests gradually arrive.
  
  
• Remember in detail the accomplishment you're most proud of just before entering the room. The memory will flood your system with endorphins, which is an instant confidence booster.
  
  
• Breathe! When feeling self-conscious, people often draw short, shallow breaths, which only make things worse. Focus on taking deep breaths, which have an instant calming and grounding effect.
  
  
• Pretend that you're the host of the party: it boosts your self-confidence because it makes the event your event. Better yet, volunteer to be on the greeting committee if you can.
  
  
• Position yourself around the desert buffet: it makes for easy conversations, and when people eat, their endorphin levels rise, which puts them in a better mood.
  
  
• Approach people standing alone: they're probably feeling awkward and lonely and will be grateful to you for saving them from anonymity.
  
  
• Compliment them on something they're wearing, and then ask an open-ended question about it. It's one of the most effective icebreakers around.

Imagination is more important than science," said Albert Einstein. As usual, Al knew what he was talking about -- the mind can do amazing feats when it truly believes something. Some schizophrenic patients so firmly believe they are two different people that they actually change eye color and make birthmarks appear and disappear on their skin as they switch personalities. Pure mind power can make many things come true. No, it won't make you win the lottery, but it can certainly be all-powerful on one person's behavior -- you.

One interesting fact about the mind is that, per se, the brain has absolutely no actual connection to reality. It relies on chemical signals from other organs to decide what's happening out there. Picture this -- if one interrupted the input of the other organs, the brain would be so thoroughly oblivious to everything, that one could be opening the skull and working on the brain itself, and it would have no way of knowing it, remaining blissfully unaware of the proceedings (this is exactly what general anesthesia does).

Upcoming Seminar:
Becoming A Master Communicator

The Columbia Business School Alumni Club / New York
Proudly Presents...

HOW TO BECOME A SUPERSTAR IN YOUR FIELD

An interactive seminar series with Olivia Fox Cabane.

Becoming a Master Communicator

In this session, you will learn immediately applicable tools to:
* Build extraordinary business relationships
* Master the power of nonverbal communication
* Turn even upset contacts into loyal fans
* Become a master of influence and persuasion
... and much, much more...

What are your goals?

Whatever they may be, there's a good chance you'll need somebody's help to reach them-- extraordinary success is usually achieved with other people, and that's what communication skills are for. Through good communication, you can improve your chances of making even your most aspiring goals a reality. Communication skills are so vital that all major business schools have added them to their MBA programs.