Send a follow-up within 24 to 48 hours of meeting someone. Reference one specific thing from your conversation, not something generic. That concrete detail triggers dopamine and makes you memorable.
I also want you to think about the art of the follow-up and making that follow-up unique. More and more is happening in the follow-up than even in the moment you're connecting, and research proves this. Research shows that the biggest predictor of lasting professional relationship isn't the first meeting, it's the follow-up within the first 24 to 48 hours. And this is a recent study which shows that something has changed recently where if we can make our follow-up text, email, call stand out, that's what's going to make a lasting impression, and it needs to happen within the first 24 to 48 hours. That's the sweet spot. I do think waiting 24 to 48 hours is better. It kind of like lets that person marinate a little bit. What works? A short, specific note referencing something from the conversation is far more effective than a generic, "Great to meet you." We know this as People School students, that if we want to gift dopamine, especially a specific reference says, "You're memorable to me. I remembered this." So while you're having different conversations, if you can make a mental note or a physical note of something specific that was mentioned in that conversation, that is going to be the thing you're going to follow up with. Short, Specific. We don't need to overthink this. We're referencing one specific thing. That's how we should follow up the best.
