Most networking fails for a boring reason: it never gets scheduled.
You have good intentions. You meet good people. You even think "I should follow up." And then Monday happens.
If you want networking to actually create outcomes, treat it like any other priority: give it a tiny weekly slot.
Here is the Sunday reset we like. It takes 30 minutes and it reliably produces two real meetings in the week ahead.
What you are doing (the simple goal)
By the end of this reset you will have:
- 2 messages sent to specific people
- 2 time options proposed (so scheduling is easy)
- 1 reminder to follow up if you do not hear back
That is it. No spreadsheets. No big plan. Just momentum.
Step 1 (5 minutes): pick 5 names (not 50)
Open your recent messages / contacts / event notes and write down five people you would actually be excited to talk to.
Pick from these categories:
- 1 builder (someone shipping something interesting)
- 1 operator (someone who runs a team, process, or community)
- 1 peer (someone at your level who is hungry too)
- 1 wildcard (someone outside your industry)
- 1 "I should have followed up" (the person you accidentally ghosted)
This keeps you out of the trap of only chasing "important people."
Step 2 (10 minutes): write one line of context for each
Under each name, write:
- Where you met (or how you found them)
- What they care about (project, goal, problem)
- One small value you can offer (resource, intro, idea)
This is what makes your message feel human instead of templated.
Step 3 (10 minutes): send 2 messages (use these templates)
Pick the two easiest "yes" conversations. Then send the messages now.
Template A: the warm follow-up
Hey [Name] - great meeting you at [place/event]. I keep thinking about what you said about [specific thing].
If it is useful, here is [resource/idea]. Want to grab coffee or do a quick 20-min call this week? Tue 4:30 or Thu 8:30am both work on my end.
Template B: the "we have a reason to talk" message
Hey [Name] - quick one. I saw you are working on [their project]. I am local to [city] and I am thinking about [related thing].
I would love to compare notes for 20 minutes. Are you open to a quick coffee/call this week? Wed lunch or Fri morning?
Note: always include two time options. "When are you free?" creates friction.
Step 4 (3 minutes): set one follow-up reminder (and then chill)
If you do not hear back, follow up once in 3-5 days:
Quick nudge - still down to grab a coffee / do a quick call this week? No worries if timing is wild right now.
One follow-up is helpful. Five follow-ups is a different vibe.
Why this works (the boring truth)
You do not need to "become a networker." You need a small weekly system that makes it easier to follow through than to procrastinate.
That is what wins: consistency + specificity + low pressure.
How Thawe fits
Thawe is built to make it easier to find the right people locally, start real conversations, and actually turn "we should connect" into meetups that compound over time.
Because networking is not a vibe. It is a habit.
Sources
- Harvard Business Review on relationship building and follow-through: hbr.org