We've all been there. A client or colleague asks "What's going on?" and we say "Not much" or "Just busy." And right there we slam the door on an opportunity.
It doesn't have to be this way. We may not mean to be conversation killers. Often, we simply aren't prepared to answer the question (even though we hear it dozens of times each week), so we reply with a throwaway line.
What if instead we made a habit to actually think about what's going on professionally or personally and consider how to share that information succinctly to encourage questions or plant seeds?
Try it. Take 5 minutes on Sunday night or Monday morning to think about what's happened recently that's noteworthy. Got it? Now "FUK it" and you've got your story for the week.
FUK: Fun. Unique. Know.
Say you're working on a client deal. Apply 3 filters to make it shine:
What makes your story fun?
What makes your story unique?
What do you want clients/prospects/colleagues to know?
Stay high level. If your conversation partner wants details, they'll ask. (And they will ask! That's the beauty of the hooks you set here.)
Example:
"I'm working on a challenging merger. I love the client but the company they're acquiring has messy litigation. The client keeps changing the deal features to reduce risk. Friday I think we made a breakthrough."
What's fun? It's a challenge for a client you "love" (and that enthusiasm shines through).
What's unique? The messy details behind the scenes.
What do you want clients/prospects to know? That you are working to make a creative solution--and it's working!
Bonus: Get Personal. You don't have to limit your anecdotes to work. Personal stories help colleagues, clients, and prospects get to know you in valuable ways. The "FUK-It" filters will keep your weekend/vacation/sick-kid stories tight, too. (Because we've all been trapped by someone going to too much detail. Don't be that person!)