"Hey! How is your day going?"

"Hey, great! (BIG SMILE) ... You?"

"Good, but it's rainy and wet and like a couple of retards we only packed sweaters and we don't have an umbrella either."

"Oh! One of my customers left her umbrella here this morning. Do you want it?"

"Uhh... YES!"

I just got home a few hours ago from a series of weekend adventures in beautiful Oslo, Norway.

That was the approximate conversation I had with the lady working in the G-Star store in one of the big malls.

That conversation literally saved us from getting completely soaked to the bone.

Last night I had a very interesting conversation with someone I met at a house party. He told me the story of when he and a couple of his friends spent three weeks driving along the US east coast. They were driving down the interstate, on their way to Florida when, somewhere in Georgia, they noticed a nearby island on the map. "Hey, let's go check it out..."

They left the highway to go on an unplanned adventure. Apparently, at this island, there are about 80 people living there... and you need to plan and book your trip weeks or months in advance to even be allowed to go out to the island. They need to know where you're staying before they even let you drive out.

On the way, they met some people who were just leaving... and being social people, they struck up a conversation. One thing leads to another, and before you know, their new friends completely hook them up. Awesome.

...

Listen... most people don't freakin' talk to people. During our Oslo trip, we've been talking to almost literally EVERYONE. Most people are shocked and somewhat wary when two strangers just say hello at the bus stop, or in the middle of the street.

Here's how we got to the house party I mentioned earlier:

We talked to a girl we met on the train to Oslo. Turned out she was the manager of a coffee shop in the middle of main street, and we agreed we would stop by the next time.

We went by the place the following day... and we got to talking some more... as well as getting to know her co-workers. Before you know it, we're invited to go out with them that same night... and to a crowded house party the following day.

So while most people sit quietly watching everybody else in the corner, in the back of the bus... we're talking to everybody! It's way more fun.

And... you know what?

This is one of the biggest BUSINESS lessons most people just sail by...

A lot of people get into the internet biz so they can hunker down in their little cave and twiddle with some buttons... all in order to NOT talk to another human being ever again!

Did it ever occur to you that... selling products and services in any context requires TWO human beings? The buyer... and the seller.

I don't know any super-successful business owner, marketer or otherwise, who doesn't interact face-to-face with other people.

If you're thinking that this is "not you" -- that is a bullshit excuse. I, personally, am NOT naturally extroverted. I'm much more on the introverted side... but introversion is not the same as shy. I'm not shy. Shy is just a fear-based reaction, and it doesn't help you, ever... and it's not a part of who you are. You can get rid of it by conscious effort and by challenging yourself.