This morning I nicked my sister's pink lipstick and set out to get quotes from the general public, for a newspaper article that I'm writing. I cruised by the cafe where I intended to find interviewees, then pulled into the jampacked parking lot. I was about to swing out again and park on the street, but I was struck by a sudden surge of shyness. How do I just go up to people and ask them questions? It seems impossible. I dragged the minivan into a U-turn and trundled home.
After getting back, I flopped onto the couch and told my mom, "I can't do it! I can't just talk to people!" Wise as ever, my mother reminded me that I know plenty of people who I could call up and ask for opinions. She said, "Don't start with the most difficult possible option." My mom has the audacity to be right about everything. Thank goodness for that! She's also pretty good at selecting scarves:
Talking to random strangers is definitely a learned skill. I sucked at it when I first became a reporter, but then it became old hat. It's still a useful skill today!
ReplyDeleteLet me know if you have any tips for beginners!
DeleteApproaching random strangers is HARD, man. I used to have this job where I had to go up to people in parks and try to get them to join this mailing list - when people see someone coming at them with a clipboard then run away FAST, haha. I wasn't even selling anything though! My only advice is to barrel on through, just start with "Excuse me, can I ask you a question?" and don't take it personally if they tell you to go away or ignore you.
ReplyDelete*shudder* I admire your fortitude!
DeleteI had to do ONE article with random strangers quotes and that nearly killleeeedd me! I am super outgoing but man that was just so hard. Kudos to you for doing it!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not alone in my misery, haha!
DeleteArggh talking to strangers is so hard sometimes! Just the thought of talking to people scares me, but I know it's one of those things where once you do it a few times you'll wonder what you were so worried about in the first place. It's awesome you're doing a newspaper article!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sarah! We'll see how it turns out, haha
DeleteI think pretty much everyone hates approaching strangers, at least at first. It gets easier with practice, though. Just like giving conference talks to a room full of more senior scientists who get to ask you grill-style questions at the end. Or turning up to teach chemistry to a room full of students wh *really* don't want to learn chemistry...
ReplyDeleteAren't mums just the worst/(best)? :-D I do think wearing a good power-lipstick helps though!
Lipstick definitely helps! Yes, I love lipstick. You are a brave scientist.
DeleteHow do moms always do that? My own has been known to be right about a million times a day. I think you got some good advice. I would have completely chickened out and just made an online survey to poll people from. But that's the difference between you and me. lol
ReplyDeleteHey, that's also a good idea! Might steal it! ;)
DeleteTalking to strangers in that context can be difficult to do. I try to push myself to do it sometimes because I tend to be really shy and overthink everything. I'm curious about that article!
ReplyDeleteYour layers are channeling mori girls, to me.
I'm impressed with myself for actually knowing what mori girls are, haha. I will probably link to the article when/if it's published!
Delete