"What do you guys think I should get my mom for her birthday?"

The question was posed by Andy, one of my fellow interns, alongside the steady sound of cards being shuffled against each other.

"Spa day."

"How does a concert sound?"

"You can never go wrong with jewelry."

"What if you set up a picnic?"

As Andy mulled over the responses, our friend Audrey called out, "What does your mom like?"

Andy paused, green eyes glazing over as they searched his memories for an answer. "Uh, I'm not sure."

Andy's inability to think about what his mom likes isn't as insensitive as it seems. His question is one many of us find ourselves asking throughout the year, and it doesn't always have an easy answer.

Millions of suggestions and ideas can be found on Google. A "101 gift ideas for XYZ" list exists out there for everyone, but many of them are generic and broad. Or they're ideas that the creator of the list would personally love to receive and don't fit the person you're shopping for.

In my experience (all 20 years of it), the true skeleton key to giving the perfect gift is to listen.

Now, when I say listen, this does not mean you should flat out ask the gift receiver what they want. This commonly elicits answers along the lines of, "Oh, I don't know, I'll love whatever you give me," or "I don't want anything" and then you're back to square one.

Listening means that when you're talking with the person you're buying a present for, really hear what they talk about. Focus on what they love. Notice the little details and habits about their life. It doesn't have to be elaborate. One of the best gifts I ever gave was an email. I emailed the author of my friend's favorite book and had the author send my friend a happy birthday email.

Listening seems obvious, but if everyone was doing it, there wouldn't be a need for the "101 gift idea" lists, the constant question of what to get, or the stress to find the perfect gift.

Instead of asking what the perfect gift is, ask yourself, what are they passionate about? What do they spend their time on? How can you help them achieve their personal goal/s? What are your inside jokes? What's something they have talked about so many times, that when it comes up, you roll your eyes and know what they're about to say verbatim?

While there is nothing wrong with consulting Google or your friends for help, don't stop there. Take these ideas and tailor them to who the present is for.

Say Google tells you to give a coffee mug or socks. I gave my neighbor a Scandal mug because I hear her yelling at the television during new episodes. My roommate received boot socks for Christmas because two weeks before she talked about finding holes in her old ones. Tailor your gifts in a way that if you gave it to another friend, it wouldn't have the same meaning.

After giving this advice to my good pal Andy, he came up with his own idea to have some local musicians play his mom a personal concert because she loved listening to their music.

Someone once told me that the gifts you receive tell you a lot about how the gift giver perceives you. In other words, the gift you give shows how much you know about the person the gift is for, and I have found this to be true. Truly hearing what someone says tangibly shows how much you care.

So the next birthday, holiday, or celebration that requires a present, find time to spend with said gift receiver and listen.