1 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:09,480 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning, 2 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:17,480 Speaker 1: This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's 3 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: tip is that when you are in a new situation, 4 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:25,440 Speaker 1: ask veterans to tell you what you need to know. 5 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 1: People love to share advice, and this question can lead 6 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:36,840 Speaker 1: to more interesting and useful conversations than many other subjects. 7 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:44,239 Speaker 1: If you spend any time reading comment threads online, you 8 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 1: will soon realize that people love to say what worked 9 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: and what didn't work for them. Sharing advice hits that 10 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 1: great intersection between the human needs of wanting to be 11 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: helpful and social and the fact that people love to 12 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 1: talk about themselves. So why not take advantage of that. 13 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 1: If you are new in a situation, you probably want 14 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 1: to get to know people, and you probably do want 15 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 1: to know information that is helpful and useful. People are 16 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 1: often honored if you ask them what would be helpful 17 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 1: for you to know? So ask. For instance, if you're 18 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: moving to a new town, ask people who know the area, 19 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:31,639 Speaker 1: what do I need to know about living in this place? 20 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 1: You can ask your new colleagues, your real estate agent, 21 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 1: your new neighbors, the friendly beerista at the coffee shop 22 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: near your office, and anyone else who might have suggestions. 23 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 1: You might get recommendations for a nearby farmer's market, or 24 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 1: advice on where not to park, tips on kid birthday 25 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 1: party norms, or who knows. Likewise, if you are going 26 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: somewhere on vacation for the first time, ask those who 27 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 1: have been there, what do I need to know about 28 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 1: New Orleans? For Marti Gras, from things to pack to 29 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 1: foods to eat to the best parade viewing spots, Marti 30 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 1: Gras regulars will help you have a great time. You 31 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: can ask for tips that a new job or in 32 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 1: a new department. What do I need to know about 33 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:23,919 Speaker 1: working here? This is also a great format for questions 34 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:26,840 Speaker 1: for kids to ask what do I need to know 35 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 1: about being in Miss Brown's Algebra one class? Or what 36 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 1: do I need to know about basketball tryouts? What do 37 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 1: I need to know about packing for this sleepaway camp. 38 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 1: Even people who are relative newcomers will probably want to 39 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:45,239 Speaker 1: help answer this question. They've picked up something in their 40 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 1: limited experience, and they will be happy to help you 41 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 1: avoid any missteps they had. The upside of this question 42 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 1: is that you get information you didn't even know to 43 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 1: ask about. Maybe what you need to know about Miss 44 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:05,639 Speaker 1: Brown's algebra class is that she always gives a quiz 45 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 1: the day before Thanksgiving because she has a particular be 46 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 1: in her bonnet about families taking extra days for this vacation. 47 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:18,959 Speaker 1: You probably wouldn't think to ask about this particular pet peeve, 48 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:23,120 Speaker 1: but if you know, you know, and you can figure 49 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 1: out what to do with it now. Of course, some 50 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 1: advice isn't useful. I was once warned in a new 51 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: job that I needed to know about something that was 52 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 1: a particular problem for my predecessor. For whatever reason, it 53 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 1: wasn't a problem for me. I had different struggles, but 54 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 1: not that particular one. You always have to figure out 55 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 1: what to do with the information you receive. But even 56 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 1: if it isn't useful, it can help you connect with 57 00:03:56,520 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 1: other people. Asking people for advice makes them feel useful, 58 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: which is highly likely to make them feel closer to you, 59 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 1: And if you are a new person somewhere, that is 60 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 1: a very useful thing. Indeed, in the meantime, this is Laura. 61 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening, and here's to making the most of 62 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:32,480 Speaker 1: our times. Thanks for listening to before breakfast. If you've 63 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 1: got questions, ideas, or feedback, you can reach me at 64 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 1: Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. Before Breakfast is a 65 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:50,600 Speaker 1: production of iHeartMedia. For more podcasts from iHeartMedia, please visit 66 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 1: the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to 67 00:04:54,480 --> 00:05:05,480 Speaker 1: your favorite shows.