17 August 2026
Today I’m roadtripping from Raleigh to Covington, GA for a bootcamp I’m speaking at tomorrow. The title of my talk is:
Customer Discovery in Action
Practical approaches for continuously engaging stakeholders, testing assumptions, and informing product and business decisions
What’s on my mind this morning is a tidbit of advice regarding asking me for introductions to my network.
It’s inevitible, when speaking at an event like this, I get an influx of emails and LinkedIn connection with participants seeking an introduction. And the reality is, I get these asks all the time.
It makes sense. One of my messages is to grow your network. One way to grow a network is to get warm introductions from people you already know.
So, here’s my advice.
Make it easy for me to facilitate that introduction.
It’s important to know that I have some rules on introductions. One of those rules I call the two-way/one-way discernment rule.
Many people in my netowrk love to get introductions. They’re usually a service provider. When this works out, I’ll do a two-way intro.
“Hey, do you know anyone who offers industrial design services?”
“Sure. Meet Ty. You’ll love him.”
However, most of the time, I’m being asked for introductions to people who might like to be asked first. The CEO of XYZ medical may be delighted to have a conversation with an aspiring medical innovator. However, I don’t just say, “Hey Joe, meet so and so who was in the audience at a talk I gave last week.”
Rather, I forward Joe a note.
“Hey, Joe, take a look at the note below. If you’re interested in meeting this person, let me know, I’m happy to make the intro.”
Better yet, the aspiring medical innovator made it easy for me. They send me a note where all I have to do is say, “Hey Joe, been a long time. Let’s grab coffee sometime. See the note below.”
That note below, it has all Joe needs.
And this, my friends, is the real advice today.
Make it easy for me to facilitate that introduction.
Most people write me nebulous notes buried in an email thread which has a lot of noise. “Andrew, do you know any nurses. Can you introduce me to some?”
You’re making me do a lot of work here. First of all, what kind of nurse? Cardiology nurse? Palliative care nurse? You likely have a specific type of nurse you want to talk to. Help me out.
The work you’re making me do also includes me taking the time to think through my network for who would be a good fit for you.
Better is to send me a note with something more speific. “Andrew, I’m looking to connect with nurses who work in hospitals who are not in the cardiology unit, but are often asked to float in. Do you know anyone?”
It’s so specific, that I may have a person in mind to connect you with. Maybe a nurse manager at a cardiology unit who can connect you to the type of nurse you’re looking for.
But there’s even a better way.
Ask to connect with specific people. I have a large LinkedIn network.
You do the work. Look at my network. Send me an email that’s more like this:
“Andrew, I’m looking to connect with nurses who float into cardiology. I see you’re connected with Jane So-and-so. I’d love an introduction to her if you’re willing to make it.”
Here’s my second major peice of advice.
Fresh new email, not from a thread, for each introduction, with everything the person I’m introducing you to needs to know and act on.
Your email to me should have a clear subject line. Metion Jane So-and-so specifically. Include a short description of who you are and why you want to meet. Include your contact information.
I should be able to respond to you with, “Sure. I’m happy to send your note to Jane. The ball’s in her court. Best wishes with your project.”
Then I write a note to Jane.
“Hey Jane, been too long. Let’s get coffee. I got a note from a medical innovator who was at a talk I gave recently. He’s looking to meet with nurses and saw you on my LinkedIn. Everything you need to know is in his note below. Thanks in advance should you choose to connect with him.”
Even if it’s the two-way type of introduction. Follow the same rules on a nice new fresh email with a clear subject line and all the details in the body. Keep it pithy.
“I see you’re connected to Ty and we’re looking for an industrial designer to connect with.”
I can just reply. “Sure thing. Happy to make that intro. Ty, see the note below. It has everything you need to know. I’m looking forward to our upcoming lunch.”
Let’s review.
(1) Be specific about who you want to meet.
(2) Look through my LinkedIn and name the person.
(3) Send a fresh email—not buried in a thread—with a clear subject line.
(4) Include who you are, why you want to connect, and your contact info.
(5) Make it so I can just forward your note.
Thank you for reading.
Health, happiness, kindness, respect
for every being and all things.
— Andrew
Written on TK. Originally published on Medium.
DiMeo Unfiltered is my back of the napkin publication featuring half-baked concepts, works in progress, blog-like posts, and personal opinions. This space is raw, authentic, and self-published.
© 2026 Andrew J. DiMeo, Sr. All rights reserved. Permission granted to share with attribution.