Phil Habeger: I'm going to an event Tuesday evening where a true crime doc EP that I've been introduced to through email will be on the panel. We haven't lined up a time to chat, but I mentioned to her that I'll be at the panel and she said let's connect there. I want to have my mindframe set in a way that I can chat with her briefly and leave her wanting to continue the conversation.

• Start with the expert approach as your opening game that may lead to mentorship and eventually to gatekeeper.
• Lead with value by reminding her why you appreciate her work and how you naturally align with her human-first storytelling.
• Take the less is more approach. Begin a conversation that you can have at a later time.
• Create a feeling of what it’s like talking with you that will have an emotional association with your name that will make them more responsive.
• Think of ways in which you are both peers, sharing the same goals and obstacles, which will bring you to the same level.
• Use the brief interaction to set up the next step by reiterating the challenges you’d love to talk about and asking if she’s open to continuing the conversation another day.

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