You're absolutely right about not talking shop, but talking golf on the links.

Sorry, time for another story:

Friend of mine (owns a shopping center in Orange County worth about $40M, among other things) plays golf regularly. Actually played well enough to be on the tour, before he got terrible arthritis.

So he's playing one day, with two guys who occasionally join him. They've played as a threesome for years. All they ever talk about is RE investing, and golf.

So the two other guys are talking mergers (this was in the late 80s). Shane (my buddy) says, "Y'know, I've never asked you two what you do for a living."

The two of them look at Shane, then each other, and smile.

"I'm the CEO of Safeway" says one guy.

"I'm the CEO of Lucky stores" says the other.

Shane is completely taken off balance. He doesn't know what to say.

So he says the first thing he can think of:

"Y'know, I've shopped at both of your stores!"

(kooky as it sounds, this is a true story).

-Russ H.