Is there anyone whose name gets your attention? Someone you almost obsess about? A person who inspires you, whom you would love to be like in the future, whom you look up to? A celebrity, perhaps? The founder or CEO of a company you love, a rockstar, a media mogul, a girl or guy you have a crush on? Or maybe someone to whom you would love to pitch an idea or sell a product? Someone you are dying to meet? That’s an awful amount of questions but the truth is you are not alone. Nearly everyone has somebody they would love to meet in person.
And for most people, this is an impossible feat that can only happen in their imagination or dreams. I mean, come on, how can little ol’ you get to meet Donald Trump, Mark Zuckerberg, Theresa May, or Linkin’ Park? You stand a better chance surviving a fall from the top of the Burj Khalifa than meeting any of these top shots, right?
Wrong!
You can get an appointment with just about anyone in the world. And yes, that is a fact. There is nobody that is completely “unmeetable”, all you need is the right approach. Some theories say that you are six persons away from that important person you want to meet. Or is it three persons? I am not totally sure right now. While this has an ample amount of truth in it, this article will show you three simple steps to get an appointment with that person that you want to meet. Mind you, these steps aren’t just for salespeople, just about anyone can modify and use these steps to meet anyone of their dreams.
Let’s begin… but first.
It is important that you understand this one point above all else: YOU MUST HAVE SOMETHING OF VALUE TO OFFER. Let that sink in. A lot of people blow their chances of building a relationship with an important person because when they met them all they wanted was to take a selfie with them. If you are going to take out time to apply these steps be sure that you have a strong reason to want to meet that important person. Besides ruining your chances of ever meeting them again, you would have succeeded in tainting the image of the person who introduced you to them.
1. Find The Closest Lead
This is where the six degrees of relationship or connection theory holds true. Right now, as you read this post, there is someone you know that knows another person who also know someone that has direct access to that important person you want to meet. Did that make sense? The line might be longer or shorter depending on the kind of people you have around you. So the first step to getting an appointment is to leverage on the connections you have right now. If you do not have the right connection, start building one right away. Attend and participate in conferences, meet-ups, seminars and other kinds of programs in the industry of this person you’d like to meet. Your involvement in such gatherings will put in front of the right people who may serve a links to your quarry.
Social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn can help you achieve this. Check to see if you have someone in common with this person and then build your relationship with your mutual link. This will make is easier for your link to introduce you. Important people would easily agree to a meeting when it is set up by someone they already know – a friend or close associate.
2. State Your Purpose
When you are visiting a foreign country, you are asked a question at the airport: What is the purpose of your visit, business or pleasure? Your quarry may not out rightly ask you this same question (and you shouldn’t wait for them to) but it’s on their minds. Remember you must have something of value to offer them; your reason must be strong enough to get them hooked. Millions of people out there would like to meet Bill Gates but only a microscopic few of these people have a compelling reason to want to meet him.
Before you even begin the first step, analyze your offer to be sure that it is something that they’d really want or need. Something that would help them save time, perhaps? Or even make more money? Have it in mind that many people have come to them in the name of having a great idea but in the end the idea was nothing more than a product of delusion. This is not to scare you; it is to make you really think. If you miss this point you will blow away a fantastic opportunity.
When you get introduced to this important person, quickly (and politely) tell them why you wanted to see them. Do not beat about the bush. Make your speech or writing as succinct as possible, so that it contains all the important information without being too lengthy.
3. Seal The Deal
Okay not necessarily the main deal but the deal of an appointment. When you finally get introduced to your target, either online or in person, in most situations, there won’t be enough time or you won’t be in the right location to discuss something important. You don’t want to rush through an important offering in a noisy place, while your target is standing, or in a crowded social media inbox, do you?
This is where you ask for an appointment. When you have effectively communicated your value – the reason you wanted to meet this person – ask for time to properly discuss your proposition. Whatever you do, don’t be greedy. Don’t go off asking for three hours to discuss your idea. Understand that this person is busy and most likely has a long list of other appointments on their schedule.
Ask for 20 – 30 minutes to speak to them on a later date in a location that is convenient for them. Or 10 minutes of talk time if you want to speak to them on the phone. Requesting for a modest timeframe shows them that you value their time and will make it easy for them to agree to meet you after. This is all you need. The 20-minute (or 10-minute phone call) appointment should be enough to get them interested in you and your idea.
Vuola! There you have it, three steps on how to get an appointment with anyone. Keep in mind that this may take some time, so be patient.
