Hi! I hope you’re having a good and recharging weekend. I’m having a very relaxing one after a busy October. The topic this Sunday is one I often get emails about. It’s about conversations. And about one simple tip that can help you to avoid too many silences in conversations and also avoid running out of engaging topics to talk about. A remedy for those two common issues is called F.O.R.D. It’s not about cars. But an acronym. And it stands for: Family. Occupation. Recreational. Dreams. It’s a simple reminder. A reminder of what people tend to want to talk about. The things and topics that are closest to their hearts. The things that engage them and get them going. Like their kids, pets, favorite hobbies and dreams about where they want to travel and what they want to do in the next few years. These four broad topics don’t have to be the end of the conversation of course. One of them can simply be the springboard that keeps you in engaging conversation on a myriad of topics for an entire evening. But they can be a valuable starting point. And be something to keep at the back of your mind if you know you sometimes run out things to say or ask about. So remember F.O.R.D. That’s what I’ve been doing for years now. And I have to say that it’s been a big help from time to time, both in casual conversations and more important ones that were starting to dip and became filled with too much awkward silence. Have a wonderful, weekend! Kolakins.