Networking does not usually fail because you do not meet enough people.
It fails because the follow-through becomes a big “someday” task.
If you want more coffee chats, intros, and momentum, you do not need a new personality. You need a smaller habit.
Here is the one we like: a 2-minute reach-out you can do every weekday.
The goal (keep it painfully simple)
Every day, you send one message that creates a clear next step:
- a quick coffee / walk
- a 15–20 minute call
- or a low-stakes “want to compare notes?”
That is it. One message. Two minutes. Consistency beats intensity.
Step 1 (20 seconds): pick the right person
Do not overthink the “perfect” person. Choose from one of these buckets:
- Warm: you met recently (event, friend-of-friend, coworker)
- Active: someone already in your messages (you have context)
- Local: someone you could realistically meet in person
- Overdue: the person you meant to follow up with
If you hesitate, pick “overdue.” That backlog is where easy wins live.
Step 2 (60 seconds): write one specific sentence
Before you type the message, write one sentence for yourself:
- Where you met / why you are reaching out
- One thing you remember (their project, goal, or problem)
- One small value you can offer (resource, intro, idea)
This single sentence is what makes your message feel human instead of broadcast.
Step 3 (40 seconds): send the message (use this template)
Hey [Name] — I enjoyed talking at [place/event]. I keep thinking about what you said about [specific thing].
If you’re open to it, 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.
Note: always include two time options. “When are you free?” creates friction.
Step 4 (optional, 10 seconds): set one follow-up reminder
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? No worries if timing is wild right now.
Then stop. One follow-up is helpful. Five follow-ups is a different vibe.
Why this works (the real reason)
Most people treat networking like a mood. You only do it when you feel social, motivated, or “on.”
This turns it into a habit: tiny, repeatable, and hard to talk yourself out of.
And when you do it daily, something surprising happens: you always have a few conversations in motion.
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 happen.
Because momentum is not magic. It is follow-through.
Sources
- Harvard Business Review on relationship building and follow-through: hbr.org