There’s a reason the saying “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” rings so true. It fuels you up and sets the tone for the rest of the day. I find eggs and coffee are a huge tool in my networking arsenal.
Breakfast meetings are great and essential to my business. There’s a reason they make up one of my 5 Pillars of Purpose-Driven Networking. These early, no-fuss get-togethers have been a key component of my success. I’ll break down the reasons why they’re so effective and provide some strategies to help you snag that first breakfast meeting.
First, let’s dive into why morning meetings are ideal for building contacts:
- Schedules can fill up later in the day. When you’re trying to meet with the high-powered CEO or rainmaker at a company, their days are frequently filled with meetings (including working lunches and dinner plans). But mornings before the workday begins are often more open. Schedule a breakfast meeting before 9 am (even as early as 7 am), and you’ll have a higher chance of reaching that elusive high-level prospect you’ve been trying to connect with.
- They’re inexpensive. Dinner for two at a traditional bistro or steakhouse can be close to $300 and break the bank. But a quality breakfast is under $40! You can connect just as well over eggs and coffee as you can over cocktails and steak and in less time.
- You can do multiple breakfast meetings! I frequently do this. One day, I had a one-on-one breakfast with the CEO of a construction company at 7 am, took my coffee and moved to another table with my client and a rabbi at 8 am, and then enjoyed oatmeal and berries with my client and two potential investors at 9 am. That’s three meetings before 10 in the morning! Some businessmen at a separate breakfast meeting noticed me moving tables and one of them reminded me that this was the strategy of former United States Ambassador David Hermelin, of Blessed Memory.
- They’re quick and efficient. Notice how I did three meetings in just three hours? One dinner with a single contact can take up the same amount of time.
If you have an elusive potential connection who claims they’re busy, try this breakfast meeting strategy. Remember, it doesn’t have to be long — a quick cup of coffee and croissant at a local café is a great way to get in front of them for 30 minutes. And be respectful of their time. Make their calendar invitation just 30 minutes and be mindful of the time when you’re meeting.
Another good tip: Select a restaurant close to their office so they can pop in on their way to work. The more convenient you make it for them, the more inclined they are to respect and appreciate you!
Give it a try and good luck!
