Whom you meet, how you meet them, and what they think of you afterwards, should not be left to chance.
For anyone you meet, ask:
- Who are they?
- What is their business?
- What is important to them? (Hobbies, challenges, etc)
Before meeting, prepare a 1-page synopsis on them. Only thing on it: What is he like as a human being, what he feels strongly about, what his proudest achievements are.
Always:
- Google the person
- Look at his LinkedIn profile
- Look at his Twitter feed
When meeting, the goal is to understand what their needs are. Ask questions and listen carefully.
For any person you’d like to meet, try to find some point of connection that is deeper than a casual conversation.