Many of you probably remember the psychic phone fad from the 90's. You could call a 900 number and get a personal read from a “professional psychic” who could answer all your questions and predict your future.
Many of the charlatans used a technique called cold reading to create a custom future using cues from your answers to questions, tension in your voice and even body language for personal visits. The key to a cold read is to provide general information that actually pertains to most people. That's why they call it cold.
They tell you that you are a person of great creativity. Well, everyone is creative about something in their life. They tell you that there is something you are afraid of. Well, everyone is generally afraid of something.
They take how you react to these questions and then go with it. For example, “Is there something you are afraid of?” “Um, well, there are laying a few people off at my job and that worried me a little.” Oh, Yes. I see a change in your job situation in the future.”
That could mean anything from a layoff, promotion or new coffee maker. You know you have the real thing when they get specific about people, places and times.