your story begins the moment you

choose to share it

This past summer, while trying to get a start-up off the ground, I started thinking about small ways in which I could improve my day-to-day and step out of my comfort zone. These were minor life hacks that I was starting to implement in order to expand my network and enhance some personal skills. My first hack was about saying yes more often and just taking up people who are willing to do nice and kind things for you. I talked about gratitude and a devotion to others — pretty cool!

For the next few weeks, I’ll be posting a short new life hack hoping that perhaps you might wanna take a shot at. This one comes from a product manager at HubSpot, who after majoring in Political Science in Kansas City, decided to take on a tech-related job and move to Boston with a limited personal network. Her nugget of advice was to never miss a chance of introducing yourself to others. Here’s why.

I’m a firm a believer that everyone has a remarkable story to share; not only is it about major life events, or special travels or what you do for a living. I think your story is just an intimate and amorphous construct in your mind that begins the moment you begin to share it. So why not start now?

Next time you’re at a restaurant, introduce yourself to the waiter, ask for their name and what they do outside of work. Think about the amount of people you’re sitting next to every day on your way to work. Introduce yourself to the person taking your order at Pavement Café. Or the one behind you as you wait in line. Ask them what they’re ordering and why. Introduce yourself to the bar tender, to the person in the elevator, to your Uber driver. Tell them your name, where you’re from, what you do after work. “Hey man, my name is Carlos, I’m from El Salvador and I work at HubSpot, it’s a pleasure to meet you…"

If they look at you in skepticism, which they will, share with them what you’re doing and why. You have absolutely nothing to lose. Don’t wait for the next networking event that you will never go to. Take advantage of your everyday and introduce yourself to others. Keep a record on the Notes app of your phone of the people you meet and what makes them special.