Key message: Make a list of people you want to connect with. Organize them.

Take Names - Recap

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the contact information. As an example, the author organizes his lists in the context of his goals. He first made his 90-day, 1-year, and 3-year goals. He then created lists of people who he can connect with that can help him achieve those goals. As a newly appointed CEO at the time, he made a list of people in his industry, then a list of potential investors, and finally decision makers in large companies that may potentially buy his own. These lists doesn’t have to be in a professional context, some examples are people who are interested in the same hobby as you, friends in certain cities, people who are in to running etc.

• Creating lists helps us map out the relationship landscape so that it helps us navigate them better.
• Start with mapping out your current contacts: friends, families, spouse’s family, colleagues, clubs, and more
• Having lists handy makes it easier to know who to reach out to in different situations
• Make call sheets by region, reach out to them when you’re in town