Speaking 101: How to Be So Engaging, Even a Goldfish Will Remember You

Let's be honest: introducing yourself to a total stranger and having a memorable, fulfilling conversation right away seems far-fetched—but what if it doesn’t have to be? Imagine being able to not only overcome the awkward small talk of a first-time interaction, but also turn it into a moment that is valuable and worthwhile for both parties.

We’ve put together some key tips on how to better prepare yourself for the next time somebody strikes you with the question, “So, what do you do?” 

1. Switch it up: In most settings where you’re meeting new people, it’s common practice to talk about work right away. Knowing this, come prepared with something, anything, better than, “So, what do you do?” Ask them why they do what they do or what their favorite project is currently. Create the opportunity to see a side of somebody that goes beyond a general field of work.

2. Be human: Maybe you’re at an event and found the perfect person to network with. Do a little background research by quickly checking their LinkedIn profile or listen carefully to them speak. You’re bound to find something you have in common. All of a sudden you’re the closest thing they have to a new friend at this event.

3. Make big talk, not small talk: Introduce your line of work in a way that leads to a question prompting an even bigger idea. For example, I could say something like, “I connect clients with speaking opportunities to grow their thought leadership. If you had to give a Ted Talk, what would your topic be?” People love to talk about themselves, just give them the chance.

4. Add more depth to your role: Your title alone is the least interesting thing about your job. Next time you’re prompted to talk about work, mention what you love about your job or a project you’re working on. Energy is contagious. If you’re excited, they’ll get excited not only because what you’re working on is awesome, but because you’re not talking about the weather.

5. Keep in touch: Did you pay attention to what your new friend said? Great! Now follow up. People love to be remembered. Similar to when you write a thank you note after an interview, leave the conversation remembering something that stood out to you and include it in your follow-up note. People are used to forgetting the details of their interactions the moment they’re over. You’ll stand out by showing you were paying attention.

Getting to Know You: Meet cred’s Summer Interns

Earlier this month, we introduced you to our summer intern Caraline Pham. Now, we’re excited to introduce you to the two interns who will also be spending their summer here with us at cred: Sheila Tabar and Vyvy Nguyen, both of whom are rising seniors at UC Santa Barbara. Sheila will be joining our speaker management team, and Vyvy will be working alongside our growing event management team. 

Get the scoop on these two new credians.

(Left: Sheila Tabar, Vyvy Nguyen)

cred: Where are you going to school and what are you studying? Why did you choose to study that subject?

Vyvy: I am currently a senior studying Psychology and Communication at UC Santa Barbara. My majors allow me to further my knowledge of interactions between others and myself. 

Sheila: In the fall, I will be starting my senior year at the University of California, Santa Barbara. I am a double major, studying Environmental Science and Political Science! I chose these majors because I love learning the different modes of environmental and political communications to effectively convey messages! 

cred: Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

VN: I was born and raised in the Bay Area and am happy to be home for the summer working with cred! Some of my hobbies include yoga, traveling, and trying new food joints. I love being on-the-go and spending time exploring or hanging with my friends and family.  

ST: I am originally from SF, born and raised! I am so stoked to be back in the city this summer. In my free time, I love powerlifting, going to the beach, and trying new types of food!

cred: What do you want to achieve while interning at cred?

VN: I look forward to pushing myself out of my comfort zone! I’m really excited to learn the ropes of what great event planning looks like. 

ST: I want to further develop my knowledge in the PR field. I am excited to dive deeper into speaker management and enhance client relations with new skills. I am looking forward to assisting with the relationship between speakers and events! 

cred: If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be?

VN: Pizza. Deep dish, pan crust, thin crust—you name it. 

ST: Garlic noodles! Fire.

cred: Can you give us one interesting fact about yourself?

VN:  In my high school yearbook, for senior superlatives, I was voted “Most Likely to Steal Your Lunch” (no theft involved though, just their way of saying “biggest appetite”). 

ST: I have visited all four major Hawaiian islands! 

cred: What is one thing you want to accomplish in the next five years?

VN: I hope to have a career in marketing/events and have a cute pet cat. 

ST: I would love to be working in the PR industry back home, have my own pet dachshund, and master’s degree in Business! 

Interested in building your career at cred? Learn more about our open positions on AngelList or email Gina King at work@credpr.com with your resume!

Wonder: CreativeMornings San Francisco

This morning, we had the pleasure of attending the Creative Mornings SF June event centered around the theme of “Wonder.” Nestled into the General Assembly SF, we listened to Lea Redmond share her stories and advice of finding positivity in disappointment and rejection. 

Redmond is the founder of The World’s Smallest Post Service. This morning she shared her journey of creating her business and how she combated the ups and downs along the way. Redmond uses prismatic thinking—reframing your thoughts and mindset to lead to a positive outcome–to see any ‘no’ as a huge ‘YES.’  She discussed how prismatic thinking is about finding the good in the bad, or the rainbow on a rainy day. This sort of thinking is what led Redmond to run The World’s Smallest Post Service, launch a sticker line, sell reusable tote bags and even release a book. 

As Redmond said, “If we are able to find delight in being wrong, we are well on our way to seeing new things.” It’s thoughts like these that have kept Redmond going and have pushed her to overcome the no’s. She has taken each no, each rejection, and spun it to make different versions of her goals. Redmond leveraged her creativity to find her own version of success. What Redmond shared with us this morning is that creativity is important, especially in the face of rejection. If we want to pursue what matters and what is meaningful to us, it is important not to settle at no. 

It is this mindset that has pushed Redmond to find joy and success in what she does, and what has inspired other entrepreneurs to advance their businesses. 

Here at cred, we see this sense of wonder from many of our clients and are thrilled to work with them as they continue to inspire the way we think. With a mission to “help people undo the knots in their head,” Muse Co-Founder Ariel Garten empowers the value of reshaping one’s thinking to build a richer life through meditation and “rewriting self-debilitating fake narratives that hold us back.”

Find out where the next CreativeMornings event is happening near you by visiting here and get inspired!

---

This credBlog post was written by Caraline Pham, our cred Summer Intern

Getting to Know You: Meet cred’s Summer Intern

View fullsize

Here at cred, we've experienced a lot of growth, and our intern program is no different. This summer, we're welcoming three new interns to support our speaker and event management teams.

Up first is Caraline Pham, who will be interning with one of our speaker management teams. A native from Boston and rising senior at The University of Wisconsin-Madison, Caraline is excited to learn more about the PR industry and work with an array of clients.

Get to learn more about Caraline in the full interview below.

View fullsize

cred: Where are you going to school and what are you studying? Why did you choose to study that subject?

Caraline Pham: I am a rising senior at The University of Wisconsin-Madison (go badgers!). I’m studying strategic communication, which is housed in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. I am also earning certificates (UW Madison’s equivalent of minors) in business and digital studies.

I’ve always been interested in different forms of communication and how to use them effectively and everything I am studying has let me deep dive into that!  

cred: Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

CP: I am from Boston, so being on the other side of the country is definitely a big change, but I absolutely love it! I love doing hot yoga and a good charcuterie board. On the weekends you can find me trying new restaurants or spending time with my friends    

cred: What do you want to achieve while interning at cred?

CP: I am excited to gain more experience in the PR industry and work with an array of different clients. I am looking forward to learning more about speaker management and hope to learn the ins and outs of how to find an event that a speaker is excited to be involved in and the event is excited to have!

cred: If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be?

CP: Sushi (I know it doesn’t really seem like a breakfast food, but I wouldn’t rule it out)

cred: Can you give us one interesting fact about yourself?

CP: I used to pole vault!

cred: What is one thing you want to accomplish in the next five years?

CP: I would love to move to California and make San Francisco my home!   

Interested in building your career at cred? Learn more about our open position on AngelList or email your resume to work@credpr.com!

Event 101: How to Make Your Event Eco-Friendly

Integrating sustainability into our professional and personal lives is an evergreen process. From carrying reusable shopping bags, to forgoing plastic straws, to choosing The Impossible Burger on a menu, sustainability efforts have become increasingly mainstream as awareness around the environmental impact of our habits grows.

Guided by the familiar mantra to “reduce, reuse, recycle,” we’re highlighting some ways the events space can better practice #goinggreen.

Reduce.

• Go digital. - Put the agenda online! In addition to having the agenda on the event website, explore having your own app created or using a third party software, such as Bizzabo, to build out your agenda digitally. Often, these apps are interactive, allowing attendees to “favorite” sessions and message speakers. The best part? No need for a reprint should you have a last-minute change.

• Cut carbon through catering. - If there’s food at the event, opt for wooden or compostable utensils and dishes. Catering companies are typically able to provide more eco-friendly alternatives to styrofoam plates or plastic forks—you just need to ask! Better yet, have the caterers bring compostable bins for any leftover food that can’t be donated. And don’t forget: no plastic straws! When ordering food, stick to a heavily vegetarian menu. For meat options, opt for poultry, as beef has a much heftier environmental impact—one five-ounce steak omites 331kg of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, versus 64kg omitted by chicken. That’s equivalent of saving 29.6 gallons of gas, all by switching out one person's meal. (Washington Post, 2017).

• Say goodbye to goodybags. - Stray away from goodybags! If you feel it is necessary to give your guests a thank you, reusable tote bags are a great option.

Reuse.

• Give your materials a longer shelf life. - Having the year listed on the event website and certain materials is extremely important for clarity, but does it need to be printed on notebooks, T-shirts, and pens? If not, this is a great opportunity to reuse! Anything left over or unused from your event that year can be saved for the next edition.

• Say no to plastic water bottles. - Make your event a plastic water bottle free zone! Encourage attendees to bring their own reusable water bottle, to be filled by water fountains or water refill stations around the venue.

Recycle.

• Add recycling bins. - While it may seem obvious, ensure there are plenty of recycling bins throughout the event. Place them near trash cans to avoid someone tossing a recyclable item simply for convenience.

• Have a donation plan in mind for left over items. - When event day finally comes to a close, take an inventory of what’s left over. Food can go to a homeless shelter or food bank, and explore donating other left-over materials to local classrooms, The Goodwill or The Salvation Army.

Interested in learning about how cred can promote and plan your next event? Connect with us at events@credpr.com.