Make your initial contact short and sweet. Five sentences…
“Make your initial contact short and sweet. Five sentences or less, or under 150 words. If someone instant messages you while you're online, go ahead and IM them back if you want. Otherwise, wait twenty-two to twenty-three hours between email contacts for the first few messages. Don't send messages while most people are sleeping, even if you're wide-awake. Shoot for business hours or just after dinnertime.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Keep early outreach brief, respect time zones, and avoid contacting people during typical sleep hours to maintain professionalism and avoid fatigue.
In simple terms: Short, timely messages are best.
Key Takeaway
Be concise and considerate of others’ schedules.
Themes
communication
etiquette
productivity
Mood
professional
practical
Type
instructional
advisory
When to use this quote
- email outreach
- instant messaging
- first‑contact strategy
- cross‑time‑zone work
Key Concepts
conciseness
time management
Questions to Reflect On
- What is the ideal message length for your audience?
- How do you handle time‑zone differences?
A Different Perspective
Over‑shortening may seem impersonal.