The other day I was meeting with a former colleague for a coffee catch up. During the conversation he lamented the challenge he was facing finding another job after he was laid off towards the end of last year.
I asked if he had connected with someone that I introduced him to late last year and his response was, “No. I took a look at the company and it didn’t seem like a good fit.”
I have a rule. If I get introduced to someone, I take the meeting. 100% of the time. No matter the person. No matter the situation. It's as simple as that.
Why? Because relationships are everything.
Not just important.
Everything.
Every moment we spend with another person is a chance to build something. Something real. Something meaningful. Too many people treat relationships like transactions. They want to know: “What can I get from this?” But this way of thinking misses a huge point. And when my friend doesn’t follow up on an introduction I gave him it not only reflects negatively on him: it reflects negatively on me.
I’m not saying you should meet every person just to be nice. But when you open yourself to new people, new ideas, and new opportunities, you’re changing your mindset. You’re shifting your focus from “taking” to “giving.” Giving first. Offering value, kindness, and attention without expecting immediate rewards.
And taking every meeting is about more than business. It's about human connection. It's about understanding that every introduction can lead to something bigger.
It’s a mindset shift. A new way of thinking about relationships. Whether in your personal life, at work, or in your community, relationships are the foundation. If you aren’t taking every meeting, you’re closing yourself off to new possibilities.
The Psychology of Connection
Humans are social creatures. We thrive on connection. From the moment we’re born, we seek others. We need others. It’s hardwired into our biology. Our brains are built for connection.
Why is that important? Because meaningful connections are the key to happiness. Harvard’s longest-running study on happiness found that good relationships keep us happier and healthier. They’re more important than money or fame. That’s the kind of insight that makes you rethink how you approach the people around you.
When you take every meeting, you’re opening yourself to these kinds of connections. Your brain craves it. Even the smallest interactions with new people can have a lasting impact. That’s why it’s so important not to judge someone before you meet them. You never know who they could become in your life.
In business, the value of relationships can’t be overstated. Research from the Stanford Social Innovation Review shows that social capital: the value we get from our networks, is a key driver of success. Not just in business. In life. The more people you know, the more opportunities open up.
So, when you close yourself off to new relationships, you’re cutting off those opportunities. You’re shutting down the capillary that feeds into your life. Relationships aren’t just about immediate transactions. They’re about opening doors to things you haven’t even considered yet.
The “Take First” Mindset vs. The “Give First” Mindset
Let’s break it down. The world is full of people with a “take first” mentality. We all know them. The people who ask for favors, but never give back. They’re always looking to benefit from a relationship without putting anything in. The problem with this approach is simple. It’s transactional. It’s self-serving. And ultimately, it doesn’t build deep, meaningful relationships.
Now, let’s look at the flip side. The “give first” mindset. This is where you show up ready to offer value, to contribute, to help others. You’re not thinking about what you can get out of it. You’re thinking about what you can offer. That shift alone changes everything.
Think of the most successful people you know. They’re likely givers. They approach every interaction with the goal of offering something. It could be advice, an introduction, or just a kind word. And because of that, they build trust. They build loyalty. People want to help them because they’ve helped others first. This leads to better, deeper, and more lasting relationships.
And here’s the kicker. It works in the short term too. Giving doesn’t mean you’re ignoring your own needs or goals. It just means you’re prioritizing others. And in the long run, this always pays off.
The Data Behind the “Give First” Approach
One of the best-known studies on this topic comes from Adam Grant, a professor at Wharton. His book Give and Take explores how people who give are often the most successful. He categorizes people into three groups: takers, matchers, and givers. Takers focus on their own interests. Matchers look for equal exchange. But givers? Givers think differently. They focus on helping others. And they tend to do better in the long run.
Grant’s research shows that givers tend to build stronger networks, are more likely to get promoted, and are more successful in both their personal and professional lives. Why? Because people remember when someone has helped them. They remember the value you’ve given. It’s the foundation for a lasting connection.
There’s more research to support this idea. A study published in Psychological Science found that people who help others are more likely to feel fulfilled. Helping others increases your sense of purpose, which in turn makes you feel happier and more satisfied with your life. It’s a win-win.
It’s simple: Give more, and you’ll get more.
Not in the transactional sense. But in the sense that relationships come back to you. Your network grows. Your opportunities increase. And you become a more valuable person in the process.
The Ripple Effect
When you take every meeting, you start a chain reaction. You meet one person. They introduce you to someone else. And that person introduces you to yet another. This is the ripple effect of relationships. Each new connection has the potential to lead to something bigger.
Think of your network as a web. Each person you meet is a node in that web. The more people you connect with, the larger the web becomes. And each new connection brings new possibilities.
The beauty of taking every meeting is that you never know where it might lead. One meeting might feel like a “small” interaction. But what if that person knows someone who knows someone who changes your life? The connections you make today might not pay off immediately, but years down the road, they could make all the difference.
This concept is known as six degrees of separation. The idea is that everyone is connected to everyone else through a chain of acquaintances. And by taking every meeting, you expand your circle exponentially. Every new connection could lead to opportunities you never thought possible.
Steps to “Take Every Meeting”
So how do you actually start adopting this mindset? It’s not as hard as it seems. Here are some actionable steps:
Shift Your Mindset: The first step is to mentally commit to this. Start thinking about every new introduction as an opportunity to give. What can you offer this person? How can you help them? Even if you don’t know them well yet, the mindset shift will guide the conversation.
Be Open-Minded: Approach every meeting with an open mind. Don’t judge someone based on their title or their job. Everyone has something valuable to offer. And the people you think might not be valuable now could be the most important connections down the road.
Follow Up and Follow Through: The meeting doesn’t end when you say goodbye. Follow up with a thank-you email. See if there are ways to help them further. Follow through on any promises you made. This shows you’re serious about building a meaningful relationship.
Leverage Your Network for Others: One of the best ways to show you care is by helping others. Introduce people who could benefit from each other. Make connections. Offer value. This creates goodwill, and people will remember you for it.
Be Consistent: The key to all of this is consistency. Taking every meeting won’t give you instant results. But the more you do it, the more relationships you build. The more relationships you build, the more opportunities you open up.
Learn From Each Meeting: Every person you meet has something to teach you. Whether it’s a new idea, a different perspective, or a new way of thinking, there’s always something to learn. Treat every meeting as a chance to grow.
Build Long-Term Relationships: The purpose of all of this is not to get something right away. It’s about building relationships that last. The value of these relationships will pay off in the long run.
The Benefit of Human Connection
I strive for a world where every encounter is cherished, where every introduction is embraced with open arms and an open heart. A world where human connection becomes a profound celebration of our shared existence.
I challenge you to step into every conversation with curiosity and tenderness, knowing that each person we meet shapes us in ways we may never fully comprehend.
Lean into the magic of every introduction, every moment of shared humanity.
Take every meeting.
Give first.
Embrace the unknown.
In the end, the true richness of life lies not in what we achieve alone, but in the countless people we’ve touched along the way.
So TAKE. THE. MEETING.
Allow yourself to be swept away by the beauty of human connection. Say yes to the stranger, the friend of a friend, the unexpected invitation. In every new face, there is a vast universe waiting to be discovered. And in choosing connection, you are choosing a life filled with love, wonder, and endless possibility.
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