intentional outreach
Build Connection Habits That Actually Stick
I Lost Touch With My Mentor Because I Had No System
I lost touch with my mentor from my first job. Not because of a fight. We just stopped texting. Three years passed. When I finally messaged her, I spent…
The Weekly Review: 15 Minutes to Better Connections
The Problem: Connections That Fade
Sarah, a management consultant in Chicago, texts three clients every Friday afternoon. She also sends two emails to former colleagues and checks in with a mentor she hasn't seen in months. This takes…
Contact Frequency: How Often to Check In With Your Network
The Email That Never Got Sent
I had a mentor from my first job. We grabbed coffee every quarter for three years. She gave me advice that shaped my career. When I switched companies, I told myself I'd…
Weekly vs Monthly: Finding Your Ideal Connection Cadence
When "We Should Catch Up" Becomes a Graveyard
My friend Mark has a collection of half-written texts in his phone. "Hey! It's been forever..." sits abandoned. "We should definitely get together sometime"…
Contact Rhythms That Actually Stick: A 6-Step Checklist
Most people don't lose touch on purpose. Life happens. Work gets busy. Weeks turn into months. By the time you think about reaching out, it feels awkward—like you need an excuse. The solution isn't trying…
How to Turn Occasional Contacts Into Lasting Relationships
From 18 Months of Silence to Quarterly Calls
I met Sarah during my time working for a technology sales company in Arizona. We ate lunch together nearly every day for two years, complaining about clients and trading book recommendations. When…
Remember to Reach Out: 7 Practical Steps
When Silence Becomes a Habit
I hadn't spoken to my former mentor in eleven months. Not because anything happened. We just stopped connecting. Work got busy. Weeks turned into months. By the time I noticed, the silence felt…