🔗 Networking with [NAME]
by Woodgie · 53 things on Twos
- Network, Don't Sell
- Before You Reach Out
- Is there a *real reason* to connect — not just "they fit our ICP"?
- Do I have **one specific observation**, not a category?
- Would this message land if they knew I wrote it in 60 seconds?
- One question only — not a pitch, not a menu
- If you can't answer yes to all four — don't send yet
- Research Minimum
- What are they building **right now**?
- What stage or moment are they in?
- What do they post or care about publicly?
- What's the natural opening — not the elevator pitch?
- evyAI: domain search → filter by title/location → Perplexity one-click research
- Standard: **would this still sound human if they knew I wrote it fast?**
- The Message
- Opens with **observation**, not introduction
- Curiosity over framing — no "I help founders with..."
- One question, max
- Read it aloud — cut anything that sounds like selling
- Am I opening a door or cornering them?
- After First Response
- Are they **thoughtful**?
- Do they ask anything back?
- Is there energy worth continuing?
- ⭕ Flat energy = disqualify cleanly. Move on. No drama.
- Not everyone deserves your pipeline attention
- After Any Real Conversation
- Notes captured immediately
- Where I found them
- What they care about
- What felt **alive** in the conversation
- What they're trying to build
- Natural next step
- ⭕ No notes = the relationship restarts from zero next time
- Follow-Up
- Triggered by **real context** — not a cadence
- Feels like "I remembered this and thought of you" — not "bumping this"
- A post or idea + one sentence of context
- Something they said that stayed with you
- A soft introduction
- A question that continues their thinking
- Generic follow-up is worse than no follow-up
- Weekly Rhythm
- 10–15 people identified worth knowing
- 3–5 tailored messages sent
- 1–2 follow-ups from real notes
- 1 introduction made if it fits naturally
- Replies handled — **thoughtful**, not fast
- The Filters (ask every time)
- Would I want this person in my orbit even if no deal happened?
- Am I curious about them — or just qualifying them?
- Is this a real opening or a disguised pitch?
- Networking works when it compounds. It compounds through notes, curiosity, and follow-up that sounds like you remember.