These are great articles and resources--thanks, Alyssa! Alluded to in some of these is another technique that I appreciate and have found valuable--connect other people together. This presumes you know at least one or two people already, but that's often true. Helping connect people helps start new ways to relate to existing people and also shows you're not just thinking of yourself. It can also be a good excuse to say hi to someone... And you've shown value to others, as well as demonstrating you know something about them and their needs.