While me and my friend waited for our car to arrive outside a restaurant, he made a statement, “This is taking too long, it would be so much better to talk to these strangers while we wait for our car to arrive.”

I replied, “Then talk”

He laughed at me, “No, one can’t talk to anyone anywhere.”

I said, “Yes. We can. It’s okay”.

Then he challenged me, “Do it then”.

I looked around at the young couple, who were also waiting for their car to arrive, said to the guy specifically, “I was suppose to wear the exact same t-shirt tonight. I even tried it, before changing my mind”.

He exclaimed, “What? Really? Why didn’t you?”

I said jokingly, “It looked too cute on me. I wanted to tone it down. But honestly, it looks better on you than me”

He dabbed me.

We continued talking about the restaurant and the meal we had, then it moved personal topics.

Now we all four – my friend who challenged me, and his girlfriend were in a fun and engaging conversation.

After this all ended. My friend asked me – “What, you really were to suppose to wear the same T-shirt?”

I laughingly said, “I do not even have that T-shirt. I just made it up. And that’s all you need to know to talk to anyone (almost) anywhere”.

Learn to make things up – And you will be in a conversation with almost anyone.

Yes, there are contextual factors, emotional state and body language of the person/people that must be taken into consideration also.

Making up a short story out of something (ideally light-hearted) that relates to the person in that moment,  you are aiming to talk to is an art can be cultivated with practice and a little bit of effort.

Yes, if you make something up, make sure you can follow through with it.

You do not want to make up something that makes it difficult to follow through.

Well, some may argue this is based on a lie.
Yes you are not speaking the facts, but this harmless tact.

There are some drills I often asked my clients to do develop this brain muscle of making things up.

For example, whenever you are out and about, pick a person in your head from the place, and observe him – from what he is wearing, the objects with him, his behavior, and his immediate surroundings.

Make a up story that you could tell to him using your observation.

Initally, it may seem difficult and at time frustrating..Trust me with some time, you will get a hang of it.