Q: Small talk is like any other skill. It takes practice to master. If you want to be better at small talk, practice making small talk whenever you can.  Choose low stakes situations to practice small talk. If you're going to a party on Friday, you may be very nervous about making small talk with potential new friends. Therefore, work on making small talk during less intense social situations. For example, make small talk at the line in the grocery store. Try to strike up small talk with a barista at a coffee shop. If you're making small talk with people you're unlikely to see again, you may be calmer. If you're stressed when making small talk, this is likely to rub off on other people. Therefore, work on developing a positive mentality surrounding small talk. Going into the situation positive can make it a more positive experience for everyone. This can make small talk easier, easing your social anxiety in future situations.  Change how you think about small talk. Don't think of it as a burden. Instead, look at it as a way to get to know new people. Try doing something to relax, like taking a few deep breaths, before going into a situation that requires small talk. You will end up calmer during the situation, and better equipped to make small talk in a positive manner. You may feel anxious going into a social situation where you don't know anyone. Something as simple as learning people's names can help. In places where you need to make small talk, like your office, work on learning the names of co-workers.  After you've heard someone's name the first time, repeat it once or twice in your head. This can help you commit the name to memory. Repeating the person’s name out loud when you meet can also be helpful, such as by saying something like, "Nice to meet you, John." You can also try coming up with a way to connect the name to something familiar to you and this may help you to remember. For example, you might think to yourself, "John with the tweed blazer," or "John rhymes with Sean my brother," or "John, like my uncle John.” Remember, you can always ask a third party for someone's name if you forgot it. Sometimes, just knowing you're not alone can help you make small talk. Going into a social situation, remind yourself that everyone gets nervous. You are probably not the only one feeling anxious during small talk. When you start to feel social anxiety coming on, remind yourself the other person is likely as anxious as you are. Being a good listener is important even when you are just making small talk. Active listening is a way to stay focused while someone is talking while also showing them that you are listening. To be an active listener, try to:  Show that you are listening using your body language. Maintain eye contact, face the person, and nod your head. Use neutral leading statements to make the person feel heard. Try saying things like, “yes,” “uh-huh,” and “I see.” Ask questions to keep the person talking or to clarify. When appropriate, try asking questions like, “What happened next?” “How did you feel?” and “What did you mean when you said ___?” . Showing empathy for someone else can also help you to be a good listener. When making small talk with someone, try to consider their perspective when they tell you things. How might you feel if the same thing happened to you? This can help you to respond appropriately to the things the other person says. For example, if you are making small talk with a coworker who tells you she got halfway to work and realized she left her phone at home and had to go back, then you might guess that she felt very frustrated and it was not a pleasant morning for her. Therefore, an appropriate response might be something like, "Oh no! That sounds frustrating! I hope the rest of your day goes better.”
A: Practice. Stay positive during small talk. Learn people's names. Remember other people get anxious. Listen actively. Be empathetic

Q: Go to a festival and pay attention to what people are buying. Also note which booths are getting a lot of traffic.  Once you determine the popular items, find out how much those items are being sold for.  This will help you set your prices when you sell at a festival.  If you are feeling bold, you can go up to some of the festival goers and ask them what types of items are they interested in buying. Items that usually sell well include jewelry, electronics, furniture, toys, books, candles, tools and knives. Garage sales are great places to find items to sell at a festival. It is best to get to the sale early so you can have your pick of the best items. Look for items such as kitchenware, jewelry, toys, and children's clothing as these items are good for reselling.  You can often get good deals on large items like furniture at the end of the day when people are ready to get rid of an item. Always, examine the items and make sure they are still in good condition.  If you are buying an appliance, ask if you can plug it in to see if it works before you buy it. Negotiate prices when you can.  Start with 50% of the suggested price.  The bigger the discount you get on the item, the more profit you can make when you resell the item. Dress modestly when you go shopping.  Do not wear any expensive jewelry or shoes.  A person may be less likely to give you a good deal if you look like you have a lot of money. Always take cash with you. Many people are looking for unique, handmade items to buy when they visit festivals.  If you make blankets, jewelry, pottery, or clothing, a festival is a good place to sell. Selling unique items will set you a part from other vendors. Crafts that you can learn how to make at home and that resell well are candles, decorated cups and glasses, knitted items, friendship bracelets, tote bags, and food (e.g. cookies, cakes, etc.) Antique stores carry a variety of items that can be resold for profit.  Cheap items that sell well include sterling silver jewelry, antique clocks, named glassware (e.g. Tiffany, Haviland, Steuben, Roseville, Lalique, Belleek, etc.), Hummel Figurines, and Mettlach Beer Steins.  If you can, develop a relationship with the antique store owners.  They can help you identify good items for reselling and give you a heads up when they receive new inventory. The best items to make a profit from are books and textbooks, picture frames, video games, brand name clothing, Pyrex and glassware, records and record players, sporting equipment, and any items with the tag still on them. If you find an item that looks good, do a quick eBay search to determine how much the item is currently selling for.  This will help you decide if your purchase will be profitable.  Shop at high end thrift stores or stores in wealthier neighborhoods.  There may be better quality items there.  Always clean up your purchases before you resell them at the festival. Many thrift stores have discount days. Buying deeply discounted items can increase your profit. Go through your home and choose items as if you were having a garage sale.  Make sure the items are in good condition and still work. You may not get what you paid for the item, but you can still make money without having to purchase anything. Buying wholesale will allow you to get items at a discounted price.  Before you purchase, decide what type of items you are interested in selling.  This will help decide which retailers to buy from.  DOBA allows you to select the items (e.g. clothes, tools, books, electronics, games) that you are interested in selling.  Wholesale Central maintains a list of websites that you can purchase from.  The websites are grouped by category.  You may have to purchase a minimum amount to get a discounted price. Check the Better Business Bureau for complaints against the supplier before you purchase from them. Some suppliers do not sell to individuals, so you may need a Tax Identification Number under a business name.
A:
Visit a local festival. Visit a garage sale. Make homemade arts and crafts. Go to antique stores. Shop at thrift stores. Clean out your home. Buy wholesale items.