Last week I was in Las Vegas for 6 days and obviously I spent considerable time on the elevators. So I made it a point to start a conversation every single time I was in an elevator…and I mean every elevator ride. It was really an interesting experiment and I had alot of fun doing it. First of all I met a bunch of interesting people, most of whom I may never see again, but for those few moments we had a great connection.

When you first get on the elevator it’s always quiet, no one talks to each other and no one looks at each other. But I’m convinced that people want to talk and they want to have that human connection. People enjoy feeling like they are part of a community or that they are interesting or that they have something to say or that other people care about what they have to say.

All you have to do is get on the elevator, make eye contact, say hi and then something like “so have you lost all your money yet?” or “are you here for vacation?” It’s actually quite simple and the few seconds or minutes you have on an elevator can be a great time to learn something about people.

And of course if you have a witty sense of humor like me you can even try and get a laugh. I’ve found that when you only have a few seconds with people your best self and characteristics come out. So if you can try and get out of your shell and comfort zone and take a few seconds to connect with strangers you’ll find that it’s well worth it.

This also works in line at the grocery store, bank, with waiters and just about any random person you come across during the day. And at the minimum just give a big smile and a quick hello, people’s days will be brightened.