Daniel Enz: Tips from the Master of Small Talk

Communicative people have it easier in life, according to Daniel Enz. The sales trainer trains company staff. A clown nose, catchy phrases, and red sneakers are part of his performance. Five years ago, Daniel Enz sat on a beach in Thailand with his wife and daughters, feeling lost. He had just lost his job as a media consultant at SRG. "Honey, what will become of me now?" asked the young father to his wife. "You are good at selling and 'schnorren'," she said. That's when the St. Gallen native decided to become a sales trainer. He had already attended several such seminars himself. Once back home, Daniel Enz built a website; seven weeks later, he landed his first client: the Toggenburg company Balik Lachs. "I was almost scared to death when I gave my first seminar," admits the 35-year-old with Asian features. Modeled in a string thong Since then, Daniel Enz has established himself. He trains employees from companies like Confiserie Sprüngli, Remax, and Mobility Schweiz. In addition, he gives lectures on sales. This fall, Enz became the President of GSA Switzerland - the largest speaker association in the German-speaking world, succeeding Eckart von Hirschhausen. Recently, he gave a lecture in front of 450 people. His modeling experience comes in handy. Thirteen years ago, the St. Gallen native walked the catwalk at fashion shows. "Anyone who has stood in front of an audience in a tiger-print string thong has no fear of exposing themselves," he says with a grin. It was during his modeling days that he met his wife, who also worked as a photo model. Today, the kindergarten teacher is his biggest critic. "I am a born optimist. My wife is more critical. She makes sure I don't hit a wall with my rose-colored glasses." Champagne is ready During his seminars, he hands out red plastic noses - just like the famous German comedian Eckart von Hirschhausen. "The idea of the clown nose actually came to me on my daughter's birthday," Daniel Enz insists. "Putting on a clown nose makes people act more relaxed," says the savvy self-promoter. The things he surrounds himself with bring good vibes. For example, the bright red Coca-Cola mini-fridge with an expensive champagne bottle on top. "As soon as I get my next assignment, I'll pop the cork." Enz deliberately builds a brand around himself. To be recognizable, he has adopted a few trademarks. No appearance without red sneakers, which he wears with a custom-made blazer. This happened by chance when he flew to Cologne for a training session. His black leather shoes hurt him after a long day, so he bought a pair of sneakers at the airport. Since his luggage didn't arrive, he was forced to perform in the red sneakers. "Enz, that suits you," his colleagues reassured him. Now he sticks to it. "I'm a sneaker fetishist anyway and own 37 pairs." He wears a red Swatch on his right wrist, and a pricey Panerai shines on his left. "I couldn't decide, so I wear both." The 4-M principle With catchy phrases, the 35-year-old Daniel Enz teaches his seminar participants the art of small talk. Following the "4-M principle": "People must like people. If they don't, they are in the wrong profession in sales. They'd be better off as librarians or accountants." His belief: "People who enjoy communicating have an easier life. Suddenly unexpected opportunities arise." He experiences it constantly, like recently on a train. Enz asked his seatmate what he was reading. By the end of the train ride, the conversation expert Daniel Enz had a new assignment in his pocket. People should approach each other more, says the son of a Thai woman and a Swiss man. He encourages learning from children. Recently, while strolling through the city with his four-year-old daughter Joline, the little girl started jumping and spinning in circles. "What are you doing?" asked the father. "I'm dancing," said Joline. "Why?" "Just because!" This zest for life and naturalness should be reclaimed by adults, says the professional optimist. "We should behave less robotically and free ourselves from constraints." His dream: "That one morning, all businesspeople at Zurich's main train station will be walking around with clown noses." ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________