Opening lines need to be attention-grabbing. You've got between 3-8 seconds before you hear "Squirrel!" If networking is not working, you might try these ideas, too. All the world is a stage. Be heard. Learn to convey what you were born to say. You want them leaning in, not tuning out.
"Awkward Moments, Brilliant Responses: what to do when you don't know what to say" is mentioned in this show. It's a good prep sheet for your future interviews, corporate networking or while standing in line at the bank.
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