I want to share my knowledge with the Seddit community, so take it for what it's worth. I started studying David DeAngelo about a decade ago. I had serious "inner game" issues -- I was stuck in the adolescent mode of being intimidated by girls I liked. Now, thanks in a large part to the PUA community, I am a professional salesman.

I'm in the business of meeting and attracting people, and I use PUA material every day to manage my relationships. You could say that I'm a professional interviewer. I'd like to think that I've learned a lot about how to approach and attract people, and I think you can use my sales strategy to become better at what you do. I'm going to present this in sales lingo, so be prepared to translate to fit your needs.

  • Be gregarious and friendly. Talk to everyone you meet, whether or not they're likely to buy from you, and get their contact info. Always be networking -- you never know when you might need a pipe-fitter, a restauranteur, or a puppeteer. Stop for disabled cars on the road. Know how to change a tire. Help people find jobs. Help recruiters find talent.

  • Approach everyone like they were your neighbor. Are you nervous that they might not want to meet you? Why wouldn't they? You're a great guy to know! Maybe they don't need what you're selling at this moment, but who else knows a puppeteer who could show up for a puppet emergency at 3AM?

  • Be the master of ceremonies. Make sure everyone is having a good time. Be sensitive to the needs and desires of those around you, and don't be afraid to bring it up to them privately.

  • Be trustworthy. Some things are best kept confidential. Sometimes it's not about whether or not you can keep a secret, it's about knowing when you should.

  • Know when to STFU and let the other guy talk. Never, ever talk over someone. Here's a good rule of thumb: if the other guy's talking, STFU and listen.

  • Listen with your whole body. Turn your shoulders toward her, respond and acknowledge what she's saying, and follow her eyes even if she's not the one talking. Listen intently -- don't think about what you're going to say when she's talking. It's OK for there to be a pause when she finishes for you to construct your response.

  • Learn to read minds. Mirror the body language of the person you're engaging, and you'll be able to read their emotional state. Your emotions don't just control your posture -- it works the other way around, too. Mirror her body language and ask yourself how it makes you feel. Now respond appropriately to her emotional state, and help lead her to a better emotional place. Meet her where she is emotionally, and then slowly lead her where you want to go. If you fail to match her emotional state, you'll come off abrasive and repellant.

  • Be the man of the moment. You don't need to be in control all the time -- you are big enough to play a supporting role. Know how to be an awesome wingman.

  • Elevate those around you. Be the player that makes the entire team look good. Always look for ways to give credit to others. Compliment people sincerely through third parties -- it will get back to them, and it will mean much more "through the grapevine" than if you told them directly.

  • Take accountability for each interaction. Don't allow yourself to use someone else's emotional state as an excuse. Ask yourself, "how well did I handle that, and how could I have handled it better?"

  • Don't be a dick about it. Approach people the way they want to be approached. If you don't know, ask. "Hey, what's the best way to get in touch with you? Do you prefer email, or phone calls? When is the best time to call?"

  • Never be afraid to talk yourself out of a sale. Sometimes the best way to sell yourself in the long term is to be the better man and do everything you can to help the prospect reconcile with their existing supplier. Never undermine someone else -- if you're really the better man, they'll do that for you. At the same time, be prepared to give the "come to Jesus" speech if their situation is unsalvageable or if they're in danger of serious harm. Do the best thing for the prospect, no matter what.

  • Above all, understand that you are dealing with people who have thoughts, desires, and lives of their own. If you get a negative response, maybe you approached them at a bad time, or approached them in the wrong way. People have bad days. If someone snaps at you, give them space, give them time, and be more careful about how you approach them next time.

edit:typo