How do you start?

It vaies a bit what I will say. I usually tell what I think is most relevant on the setting i am in.

usually people say what their name is, where they live and work and what education they have. I think next time I am asked to present myself i will tell them something about me. Like what music and books I like. What makes me more happy than anything, what kind of food i like or what really makes me mad.

What I work with is to some extent chance and coinsident - what music I like say much more about me. I also think we should try to connect our self-worth to something other than what we do - more to what we are

For me it always depends on the situation that i am in... If i am in a professional settin i always start with my name and where i am from... if it is amoung class mates I would start with my name and maybe a short joke or some information about me..

Wow! This is a nice discussion.

I usually start with my name and what I'm busy with or my affiliations and add up something if they got some theme or sparkle on that certain meeting. My ending will go something like, "... and I am half American!" Of course, since I am petite and got some Chinese look, they will all wonder and chuckle. Pause for a moment and say, "I am half of an American, don't you see? That makes me half American."

I am wondering now if you got my joke. Just imagine a 4'10 petite slim Chinese looking woman with an Igorot blood (that's one Filipino tribe in the Cordillera mountain ranges)in your front describing herself to be half American. haha! Good morning!

when i was in college i always introduce myself like the usual do. say my name and have a sit. i dont want to make much of a scene. but on seminars i always start on Dont get mistaken im not maricel soriano.... or any popular actress that i have in mind. i am a funny person and i want always people to laugh and smile.

When I have to make a self-introduction before audience, either big or small, I would like to begin with, "Hello, everyone. I am Williamjisir from,,,. I am engaged in,,,. I am very happy to have this great chance to be present at such a meeting with a great honor..., Thanks". Thanks for it. lol

Well one should start with their names and places ofcourse... then their strenghts and weaknesses their hobbies etc...>

It seems that introductions depend on the setting.
If I am at an informal event, I may just give my first name.
If I am at a more formal event, I may give my first and last name and then I am prepared for the questions about the last name as it is eight letters long and hard to pronounce for most people... They always want to know where it is from...When I say it was a French name but when my ancestors came here they took off an accent over the e and added a "y" at the end to make it sound more American they smile.
In most cases, I try to move from the name introduction to asking the other person about themselves, what they do, if they are enjoying wherever we are if it is a social event, or if I know that it is something that is postively horrible, joining them in talking about the event which could be a boring meeting without anything good to snack on.
If I am at a training for work, I then move to the really formal introduction: full name, degree, license held, specialty areas of practice (if I see that others are listing theirs), where I came from (company, city, state)
And if I am seeing a client for the first time, I go into the name, license held, years of experience in my profession and what I do as some think I can do what I cannot do.
Introductions can be quite complicated or very simple depending on the setting and situation.

just be yourself.
be confident and tell everything you want to.:)

WEll, i start with my name, Where i came from. And the last thing is what i do with my spare time. And i would tell them that i love to practice my poi.

If I'm up to it, I would also give my interests as well as my expectations with the group that I'm introducing myself to.

If I ain't as much as motivated, I'll just state the usual, my name, how other people know me as and then say that I wish that I'd have a pleasant time with them..