Yesterday I grabbed a cup of Starbucks and saw this great quote:

I used to feel so alone in the city. All those gazillions of people and then me, on the outside. Because how do you meet a new person? I was very stumped by this for many years. And then I realized, you just say, “Hi.” They may ignore you. Or you may marry them. And that possibility is worth that one word.

The bottom line is this – If you want to make a friend… be friendly.

A few other thoughts on making friends:

• Learn someone’s name, use it, remember it! (check out this post – call people by name)
• Smile!
• Develop a pattern of showing up at the same place and time regularly! If it’s a restaurant… sit in the same spot and get to know the waitress/waiter (and for crying out loud… leave a good tip!)
• Compliment people on their expertise!
• Ask a question that highlights their capabilities and makes them look & feel good when they answer!

Now go and be friendly and make a friend… or twenty!

And if I should win a Pulitzer Prize for this blog entry, I would first like to thank my dear friend Jeff Harmon for his brilliant insights on this matter, and for consistently modeling how to win friends and influence people.