​Sir Edmund Hillary's pursuit of climbing Mount Everest is a tale of determination, resilience, and a pioneering spirit. Alongside Tenzing Norgay, a Nepalese sherpa, Hillary made history on May 29, 1953, by becoming one of the first two humans to reach the summit of the world's highest peak.

The same could be said for small talk, especially if it doesn’t come naturally to you.  Hilliary and Norgay found the journey to climb Mount Everest fraught with peril, including treacherous weather, avalanches, and the thin, oxygen-starved air at high altitudes.  As a late teenager and young adult, I found it difficult and bothersome to even know where to start when starting a conversation.

While it might seem superficial and a necessary evil, the ability to engage in effortless conversation can significantly impact your personal and professional life. It’s the social lubricant that paves the way for rapport-building. So, let's demystify the art of small talk and transform it from a dreaded chore to an enjoyable skill.

How to Start Small Talk with Examples:

• Start with a Smile and Positive Attitude: A genuine smile instantly puts people at ease. As Dale Carnegie once said, "A smile is the shortest distance between two people."  Carnegie advises that cultivating a positive attitude and always speaking with encouragement and optimism helps make you more likeable and influential with others.
• Be Present: Focus on the conversation at hand and avoid distractions like your phone. There is nothing like talking to someone who is attached to their phone and constantly peeks at their screen, waiting for a message to come through.
• Start with Your Surroundings: One of the easiest ways to initiate small talk is by commenting on something in your environment. This could be anything from the weather to a unique decor piece in the room that can serve as an icebreaker.

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• Ask Open-Ended Questions: Avoid yes-or-no questions. Instead, ask questions that invite conversation and encourage the other person to elaborate. Instead of asking, "Did you enjoy your holiday?" try, "What was the highlight of your holiday?" This invites the other person to share more details and keeps the conversation open and continuous.
• Listen and Paraphrase: Paraphrasing what the other person says not only shows that you’re engaged. Let’s continue the above conversation: "It sounds like your trip to Italy was amazing. What was your favourite moment?" This technique creates rapport and avoids awkward pauses.
• Closing the Conversation: Knowing how to gracefully exit a conversation is as important as starting one.  For instance: "I enjoyed our conversation. Perhaps we could grab a coffee sometime?" This leaves the interaction open-ended and positive and reconnects at a different time.
• Practice, Practice, Practice: The more you practice small talk, the better you'll become at it.  Practice is the cornerstone of achieving goals. Through consistent effort and deliberate repetition, skills are honed, knowledge deepens, and confidence grows.

Why Is Small Talk A Valuable Communication Skills
Despite these challenges, Hillary's unwavering commitment and partnership with Norgay, built on mutual respect and trust, enabled them to conquer the summit. Their achievement marked a significant milestone in mountaineering history and symbolised the triumph of human endurance and the spirit of exploration.
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Mastering small talk is a skill that can be learned and improved upon. Following these tips and approaching conversations with a positive and open mindset can transform small talk into a valuable tool for building connections and making a great impression. Remember, the goal isn't to have the most brilliant conversation but to create a comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere for everyone involved.

Eliza Dolittle, the spirited character of "My Fair Lady," begins life as a Cockney flower girl with a distinctive, working-class accent.  Her transformation into a refined lady is largely achieved through rigorous elocution practice under the tutelage of the eccentric Professor Henry Higgins.
 
The ability to express yourself clearly and confidently is an invaluable skill.  How you speak can significantly influence how others perceive you and how effectively your message is conveyed.  Speaking well isn’t just about knowing the right words; it’s about how you use them.
 
What Does Articulation Mean?
Articulation is the clarity with which we pronounce words.  It involves the precise movement of the lips, tongue, and jaw to produce distinct sounds that form understandable speech.  When someone articulates well, their words are crisp, clear, and easily understood, regardless of their pace or volume.  Poor articulation, on the other hand, can lead to mumbling or slurring, making it difficult for listeners to grasp the speaker’s message.

​How To Improve Articulation
For example, consider the difference between “What do you think?” and “Wd’d’u’thk?”  The first is clearly articulated, ensuring the listener understands the question, while the second is garbled, leaving the listener confused. Improving articulation involves practicing pronunciation, slowing down speech, and being mindful of how each sound is produced.

Eliza's journey is marked by relentless practice to eradicate her Cockney speech patterns. Higgins employs a variety of methods, including:
Phonetic drills: Eliza is subjected to endless repetition of vowel sounds and consonant combinations.
Physical exercises: Techniques like holding a lit candle in front of her mouth to prevent the aspiration of "h" sounds and speaking with marbles in her mouth to improve articulation.
 
Pro Tips:

• Maintain good posture with your head held high and open your mouth fully as you speak.
• Practice releasing tension in your neck, jaw, lips, and facial muscles to improve vocal clarity.
• Articulate each word distinctly, ensuring clear pronunciation, a good volume, at a medium pace.
• Avoid slurring or rushing through phrases the effect it can have is to confuse listeners.

 
Practice Exercises
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.  A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.  Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?
 
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?  He would chuck, he would, as much as he could, and chuck as much wood  As a woodchuck would if a woodchuck could chuck wood
 
Importance of Articulation
By honing these skills, you equip yourself with the tools to communicate more effectively, as Eliza Dolittle did, leaving a lasting impression wherever you go, as she did.  Remember, speaking well is an art—one that can be learned, practiced, and perfected over time.  It’s not just about what you say, but how you say it that makes the difference.

As outlined on JSTOR Daily, Maryann Tebben, French food scholar, explains, “The word “dessert” emerged in the seventeenth century, derived from the French verb “desservir,” meaning “to clear the table” in English. Etiquette dictated that napkins and tablecloths be changed before the final course, which at the time was a delicate fruit course. In a courtly context, the course itself was known as “le fruit,” but the bourgeois renamed it “dessert.” After the French Revolution, the aristocratic “fruit” was fully replaced by “dessert.”

No one in this world doesn’t love a sugary treat, and I am one of them! Dessert, or, as the British say, pudding, is the sweet finale of a satisfying meal. Did you know that dessert has its etiquette?
 
Step-by-Step Tips:
This quick guide will equip you with the tools to savour your dessert while impressing your dining companions.

1. Use a fork and spoon. The fork stabilises and moves the dessert into the spoon while the spoon scoops and feeds you. It's that simple!
2. Utensil Placement: When finished, place your utensils on the dessert plate at four or five o’clock.

 
A Sweet Conclusion
Fruit and other ‘entremets’ were the ‘dessert’ that ended the meal for centuries; however, the advent of sugar production from the West Indies to Mauritius, beginning in the 16th century, through to 17th through 19th centuries brought sugar to the westernised world, which then chef such as Marie-Antoine Carême, often hailed as the "Chef of Kings," was a culinary visionary who revolutionised the world of desserts. Beyond his groundbreaking contributions to savoury cuisine, Carême elevated pastry-making to an art form, treating desserts as architectural masterpieces.

​Jacques-Yves Cousteau was a French author, filmmaker, naval officer, and oceanographer. In conjunction with other inventors, he created the open-circuit Aqua-Lung. What does this have to do with networking? Cousteau created opportunities for himself by building a network of collaborators, innovators, and enthusiasts who shared his vision, much like in modern networking, where strong connections lead to collaborative success and shared advancements.

De Klerk and Kroon, authors of ‘Business Networking Relationships For Business Success’, printed in the South African Journal of Business Management, stated that managers should actively measure the value of networking in their business transactions to identify benefits like increased profits, access to resources, and market opportunities. Building trust and reciprocity among equal partners is essential for successful networking.  This blog post will explore strategies for effective networking, common pitfalls to avoid, and ways to leverage your network for long-term success.

How Business Networking Works
Build Your Network: The foundation of successful networking lies in building authentic relationships.  Focus on getting to know people beyond their job titles—learn about their interests, challenges, and goals. This will allow you to build deeper, more meaningful relationships that can last over time.

Offer Value First: When networking, aim to offer value before asking for anything in return. Whether it’s sharing a useful resource, providing an introduction, or offering advice, giving first builds trust and goodwill.
Be Strategic: Identify the key individuals and groups that align with your business goals. Attend industry-specific events, join professional associations, and engage in online communities where you can meet people relevant to your field. Quality is more important than quantity

​Business Networking Examples
Utilise LinkedIn Effectively: LinkedIn remains the go-to platform for professional networking. Ensure your profile is up-to-date, reflects your professional brand, and includes keywords relevant to your industry. Share insightful content, and engage with posts from others in your network. This will increase your visibility and help you connect with like-minded professionals.  Ensure that your online presence accurately reflects your professional brand.

Attend Virtual Events and In-Person Events: With the rise of remote work and virtual events, geographic barriers to networking have diminished. Take advantage of webinars, online conferences, and virtual meetups to connect with professionals from around the world. In-person events, you'll find opportunities to stand up and present your business, either through a brief introduction or a more detailed PowerPoint presentation.
 
Pro Tips for Networking
Avoid Being Transactional: Networking is not about immediately seeking what you can get from others. Avoid being too transactional people can sense when you’re only interested in what they can offer you. Focus on building relationships first, and the opportunities will naturally follow.

Don’t Overcommit: It can be tempting to say yes to every networking event or connection request, but overcommitting can lead to burnout and shallow relationships. Be selective about the events you attend and the connections you pursue. Quality over quantity is key to effective networking.
 
To Summarise
In conclusion, much like Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who built a network of collaborators to pioneer ground breaking inventions like the Aqua-Lung, modern professionals and businesses thrive through effective networking. You will want to build relationships that can unlock new opportunities, resources, and partnerships that drive success. As research suggests, actively measuring and leveraging the value of networking is key to achieving long-term growth and profitability in today's competitive landscape.

How did we get here to have three to four courses at restaurants? What has history shown us about having a multi-course menu? Wikipedia reveals “ the word "menu", like much of the terminology of cuisine, is French in origin. It ultimately derives from Latin "minutus", something made small; in French, it came to be applied to a detailed list or résumé of any kind.”
 
Why Is It Called a Menu
It also shows that the first recorded menus date back to the Song dynasty in China and that King Louis XV of France provided the surviving menus of meals at the Château de Choisy in 1751. With the establishment of hotels from the late 18th to early 19th century, notable characters such as César Ritz, an early hotel chain founder known as "King of Hoteliers and Hotelier to Kings", and Georges Escoffier a French chef, restaurateur revolutionised the hotel's menu - table d'hôte where they charged guests a fixed price for food and beverages.
 
Maura Graber states from the world's only etiquette website, Etiquipedia: "Splitting courses into different categories allowed chefs and kitchen staff to serve things more efficiently. Having little breaks in between different foods allowed them to work in smaller kitchens. Not everyone had the staff or the vast cooking areas in Hampton Court.”
 
She goes on to say, “One of the reasons that historians think sorbets or ices were served in between the entree and main courses originally was because most businesses in the late 18th century and early 19th century did not have enough forks for a second course which required a knife and a fork. So, the waiters would remove the plates with the utensils, serve something which only required a spoon, and then they went back to clean the knives and forks to bring back out with the next course.”
 
Here is what to expect on a menu:

• Entrée Course - The first dish served is an entrée, appetizer, or starter course. It could be a soup or other small dish served with bread and butter.
• Main Course - You can choose a larger meal that features all types of meat, including fish and vegetables, with accompanied sauce or gravy.
• Selection of Sides - Offers optional accompaniments to your main course, like vegetables, allowing you to customise your plate for a complete meal.
• Dessert Course - Desserts or pudding are sweet treats, like cake or ice cream, for some this ends a meal.
• Cheese Course - Cheeses are served on a plate where a fork and knife are used, accompanied by bread, never crackers in France. For those everywhere else, if table-water crackers are preferred to bread by guests, have those on hand.
• Drinks or Beverages - The beverages you choose carefully, enhance your meal with alcoholic or non-alcoholic choices available, from classic sodas and juices to aperitifs, wines, and digestifs.

Restaurant Terminology
Here are some common terms used in restaurants referring to the menu:

• Menu Degustation - This multicourse menu has been carefully nurtured and created by the chef. It showcases food that is not on the restaurant’s regular menu.
• A La Carte - This means the food is prepared and cooked after your order has been taken rather than early that evening.
• A.Q or M.P. - This means market price and food pricing, such as fish, will vary depending on the season and availability.

 
As I have found, the evolution of multi-course meals in restaurants reflects a blend of historical influences, from the menu's origins in ancient China and refinement in France to practical innovations in serving efficiency and resource management during the 18th and 19th centuries. This progression was shaped by the need for detailed meal planning, efficient kitchen operations, and the creative solutions of pioneering hoteliers and chefs, ultimately leading to the structured dining experiences we enjoy today.