Article: You should be able to offer a short, seven to nine second introduction. It should include your name, as well as your occupation and workplace. If you have a bit more time, you might also want to include something interesting about yourself, such as the benefits of your job. If you are a grade school geography teacher, you could say, "My name is John. I'm at Hillsview Primary. I make sure kids know the countries in North America." If you are a fundraiser for a local hospital, you could say, "My name is Nancy. I make sure the hospitals in this area have enough money to keep the lights on!" If you are starting a new business, looking for investors or trying to gain support for a cause, you should have a 30-second persuasive speech ready. Think of a few topics of conversation that you could use at the event, such as headlines from the morning news. If it is a professional event, you might want to choose a new trend in your field or an interesting article. If you feel stuck, compliment people or talk about the food at the event. If you are a conference in Toronto, you could say, "Do you think the Blue Jays are going to make a comeback this season?" Compliment the person's taste in drinks if it appears you are drinking the same thing. Try commenting on the weather or sports. These topics are seen as "ice-breakers," so the person will understand your intention. Ask what company the person is associated with. Open questions often prompt unexpected and interesting revelations about the person you are speaking with, such as details about their experience of working in a particular city. Skip closed questions, which sound too much like an exam, and ask questions that start conversations! For instance, you could ask, "What was it like working in Amsterdam?" You might want to avoid closed questions about their employer, such as, "Do you like working for that company?" People will be more likely to remember you if you give them your full attention. Instead of looking furtively around the room for other people to talk to, you should just give your full attention to the person in front of you. Listen to them and enjoy the conversation. If it feels like it is time to move on, excuse yourself politely and give your attention to someone else. Listen to their stories without interjecting too frequently. Look into their eyes. Use paraphrasing to make sure you have understood them correctly. You'll want to find a balance between asking people open questions, and revealing details about yourself. In the give and take of the conversation, find moments to open up about interesting aspects of your professional experience. At the same time, you should avoid disclosing information that will make people uncomfortable. Avoid inadvertently bragging. If you feel tempted to slip in a humble brag, resist it! Instead of focusing exclusively on what makes your or your business interesting, you should express interest in the people you are speaking with. As they talk, listen for the things that they sound genuinely excited or passionate about. Ask them follow up questions about those topics. If you hear someone talking about how much they enjoy a particular conference, you could say, "I've heard that is an excellent event. Why do you think it is so successful?" Don't interrogate people. Although it is great to ask follow up questions and show your curiosity, don't ask too many questions in a row without sharing something about yourself. You don't want them to feel like you are interviewing or interrogating them. Before exiting a conversation, you should always offer your business card or contact details. Bring a case to keep your own business cards, as well as for collecting new cards. A day or two after the event, you should send follow up emails to important people. If you met someone new and just want to stay in touch, you could also use social media, such as LinkedIn. Keep your follow ups short, sweet, and professional. If it was a professional networking event, you should use professionally oriented social media. In the follow up, you could offer to help with something that someone is passionate about. Volunteering your services can improve a relationship and the connection that you just made.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Give a nine second introduction. Break the ice with small talk. Ask open questions. Give your full attention to the conversation. Tell people something about yourself. Express your genuine curiosity. Exchange business cards. Follow up on your conversations.
Article: If you have been served with a summons and petition, you are the respondent in a court case for legal separation. The Respondent has several options: Do nothing. If the Respondent does not file a response within 30 days of being served, then the court will probably grant everything the Petitioner requested in the Petition for Legal Separation, including property division, support, and child custody and visitation. Make a written and notarized agreement. Instead of the Respondent filing a response to the Petition for Legal Separation, the parties can write an agreement, sign it, and have it notarized. The agreement should state that the parties agree to end the marriage or domestic partnership, and specify how the parties would like to divide their property, whether anyone will pay spousal support, and what child support, custody, and visitation orders are needed.The California courts provide more information on these agreements here. File a response, but also make a written and notarized agreement. If the Respondent files a response to the Petition for Legal Separation, the parties can still agree to resolve the issues and submit a written and notarized agreement. File a response without an agreement. By filing a response, the Respondent demonstrates that he or she disagrees with the requests that the Petitioner made in the Petition for Legal Separation. Any response must be filed within 30 days of the date that the Respondent was served with the Summons and Petition. This form, numbered FL-120, briefly identifies the issues the Respondent wants the court to address, including child custody, child and spousal support, and property division. You can download an FL-120 here. If you need help completing this form, read these instructions provided by the California courts. This form, numbered FL-105, informs the court of where any children are living and whether they are involved in other court cases. You can download an FL-105 here. The process and standards for applying for a fee waiver as a respondent are the same as those used for the petitioner. Some counties require respondents to file additional local forms for a legal separation, which may differ from those required of the petitioner. Check with your Family Law Facilitator or your county court's website. You can locate your county court's website by selecting your county on the California court's Find My Court webpage. If you are applying for a Fee Waiver, do not serve it on the other party.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Understand the Respondent's options. Fill out a Response. Fill out a Declaration Under Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) only if you have any minor children with the Petitioner. Fill out a Fee Waiver if you cannot afford to pay the filing fee. Fill out any required local forms. File your forms with the court and have them served on the other party.