🤝 How To Connect With People
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Today, you’ll learn how to build lasting relationships thanks to My First Million.
It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. The older I get, the more this adage rings true. So, how do you turn a normal meeting into a lasting connection? Shaan Puri shares how you can make an impression by being memorable and giving upfront value.
Pre-Meeting Hack
Ben Levy, my business partner, is the secret behind anything I’m able to do.
Ben’s superpower is connecting with people.
Every time we go to a meeting he always has one thing we can connect with them on.
He tries to connect with people about where their passion is, not the thing they’re famous for. He does this again and again.
For example, we hung out with Joe Gebbia. He’s known for being the co-founder of Airbnb. Instead of asking about Airbnb, Ben says ‘You’re really into microplastics, right? What’s that about?’
Joe immediately cracks open like a pistachio shell. All of a sudden he lights up, he’s excited, and he’s talking.
Shaan Puri
Post-Meeting Hack
After meetings, Ben says something like:
We should connect them with this person
We should send them a link to this
We should send that example we have of the thing they said they wanted to do
He tries to be useful for people.
It’s how he builds these amazing connections with people.
Shaan Puri
Why it matters
Networking isn't about exchanging business cards or jumping on a virtual coffee chat. To build trust and pave the way for meaningful relationships, you need to meet ‘belly to belly’ (aka in person) and connect on interests beyond surface level topics.
By following up with upfront value, you activate the rule of reciprocity. This is when people naturally feel compelled to return a favor when something valuable is received, kickstarting a strong relationship and laying the foundation for future collaboration.
Next steps
Research beforehand. Take the time to research an individual’s interests. You can do this via their social media posts, interviews, or mutual connections.
Personalize your interaction. During the meeting, engage them on these personal interests to build rapport.
Offer value afterward. Follow up a connection, a resource, or a thank you note. This shows thoughtfulness and a genuine interest in their success.
Proactively check-in. Share interesting articles, tools, or people who they may want to connect with.
Ask for feedback. When you need support, first ask for their feedback on the topic, positioning them as an expert before making your request.
Your thoughts?
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