It is astonishing the degree to which people are not listening to you. I remember I’d known that even then. No one cares about your opinion, they’re just waiting for the opportunity to offer theirs. Once you understand that, it’s pretty easy to make someone like you – give them free reign to discuss themselves until they tire of it, and you’ve won a friend for life. It’s a simple enough trick to master. Mostly it demands nothing beyond your presence, and even then only physically. Should some encouragement be required, just repeat their last few words back at them in question form.
