Forget soft intros.
Forget “Hi, I’m... and I work in...” You’ve got 15 seconds to make people care—or you’ve already lost them.

Here’s the 3-step framework to introduce yourself with clarity, confidence, and real impact.

1. The Hook – Start With a Story

What to Do:
• Skip the generic “Hi, I’m…” and dive straight into a story that exposes a major problem or breakthrough.
• Share the moment you realized something had to change.

Why It Works:
• A compelling story grabs attention and activates your audience’s “movie mode.”
• It immediately breaks the predictable intro pattern and gets people listening.

Example:
“I spent years on books and courses—yet nothing stuck when I needed it most.”

2. The Highlight – Drop the Core Message

What to Do:
• Clearly state who you are and the unique impact you’ve created for yourself.
• Focus on the shift, the result, or what you’ve built that solves the problem.

Why It Works:
• Bold, simple details stick in your audience’s mind.
• It quickly shows your personal breakthrough and your value.

Example:
“I’m Dieter, and I cracked the code: simple, structured summaries that help you master high-performance skills fast.”

3. The Handoff – Ask a Bold Question

What to Do:
• End with a bold, thoughtful question that flips the focus to them.
• Spark curiosity or challenge them to reflect.

Why It Works:
• A great question forces listeners to think, making your intro unforgettable.
• It connects your story to their personal experiences and starts a real conversation.

Example:
“What’s the one skill that would 10X your career right now?”

Full 15-Second Example

“I spent years on books and courses—yet nothing stuck when I needed it most. I’m Dieter, and I cracked the code: simple, structured summaries that help you master high-performance skills fast. What’s the one skill that would 10X your career right now?”

This is where connection happens. The introduction grabs attention—but the real magic is in what comes next.

Let’s say you’ve just asked:

“What’s the one skill that would 10X your career right now?”

They answer. Great. Now what?

This next step is your chance to lead with curiosity, go deeper, and truly connect. Don’t change the topic. Don’t move on too quickly. This is the moment to show you care—and that you’re really listening.

Here’s how to transition with purpose:

• “Interesting. Why that skill?”
  → Shows you're paying attention and want to know what drives them.
• “How are you working on it right now?”
  → Moves the conversation from ideas to action.
• “What’s holding you back from mastering it?”
  → Creates space for honesty, reflection, and maybe even a breakthrough.

Quick Story:
After introducing herself at a networking event, Maya asked someone, “What’s one skill that would 10X your career?” The answer was storytelling. Instead of moving on, she leaned in: “Why storytelling?” That one question led to a 30-minute conversation, a follow-up coffee, and a new business opportunity.

Key Action: Be curious. Take the lead. Ask one follow-up question that makes the other person feel seen, heard, and respected.

Now it’s time to shift the spotlight. You’ve introduced yourself. You’ve asked a bold question. You’ve listened.

What next? Use what you just learned to offer something that matters to them—not to impress, but to help.

This is where real influence begins—not by pitching, but by providing real value based on their goals, struggles, or interests.

Here’s how to tailor your value with impact:

• Listen closely – What goal did they share? What challenge did they mention?
• Connect it to something helpful – A story, a resource, an insight, or a personal lesson.
• Make it feel relevant – Show that you’re not just knowledgeable—you’re tuned in.

Example:
If someone says they’re struggling to stay focused while learning new skills, you might say:
“Actually, I just wrote a quick summary on that—2 minutes to read, and it helped me cut through distractions fast. Want me to send it over?”

Key Action: Offer one insight, idea, or tool that speaks directly to what they just shared.

Key Question: “How can I solve a challenge they’re facing—right now?”

Trust isn’t something you say—it’s something you show. And small cues build it fast.

You’ve asked a great question (Engage) and offered something useful (Tailor Your Value). Now, your next move is to prove you mean it.

Here are 3 powerful ways to win trust quickly:

• Be real: Avoid exaggeration or hype. Speak plainly and honestly.
• Follow through: Do what you say you will—especially after offering value.
• Own your gaps: If you don’t know something, say so. It builds more trust than pretending.

Bonus Reminder:
“Did I actually do what I just promised to do?”

Quick Story:
James met a potential client at a conference. They had a great talk, and he promised to send over a short guide that could help. The next day, he followed up with the PDF and a quick note. Two weeks later, the client said, “You were the only one who actually followed up. That’s why I chose to work with you.”

Key Action: Trust is built when your words and actions align. Be real. Be clear. Follow through.

Don’t end strong—and disappear. You’ve built trust and delivered value. Now make sure there’s a clear way to continue the conversation.

This step happens near the end of the conversation—usually after you’ve offered something helpful or had a real exchange.

Here’s what to do before the moment ends:

• Suggest a next step: “Want me to send you that resource?” or “Want to continue this over coffee next week?”
• Make the exchange easy: Share your contact details or ask for theirs. Be specific—calendar, LinkedIn, email.
• Clarify the purpose: Give them a reason to want to continue: “I think I can help with that challenge you mentioned.”

Tip: You don’t need a big offer—just something to keep the door open and the momentum going.

Example:
“I’ve got a 2-minute summary that covers exactly what we talked about—mind if I send it to you?”
“Would it make sense to continue this conversation on a quick call later this week?”

Key Action: Before the conversation ends, secure a simple way to reconnect—so you don’t leave it to chance.

Don't disappear—stay relevant. Follow-up isn't about checking in. It's about adding value after the conversation ends.

This step starts after you’ve sent the resource or agreed on a next step. Many people stop here—but this is where momentum is built.

What to do:

• Track every contact: Note who you spoke to, what they cared about, and what you promised.
• Send relevant follow-ups: Keep each message tied to their goal, challenge, or your conversation.
• Be consistent—not annoying: Show up with something useful, not pressure.

Examples of strong follow-up messages:

• “Here’s a short article that adds to what we discussed.”
• “Thought of you when I saw this—it connects to that project you mentioned.”
• “Following up on our convo—want to explore this further over a quick call?”

Suggested Follow-Up Timeline:

Pro Tip: Keep a simple log—spreadsheet, notes app, or CRM—so no name or promise slips through the cracks.

Key Action: Follow up with purpose and precision—not once, but consistently—so you stay remembered and respected.

Visibility creates opportunity. If people don’t see or hear from you, they forget you—even if the conversation was great.

This is different from follow-up. Follow-up is one-on-one. This step is about staying visible to many—consistently.

3 Best Practices to Amplify Your Presence:

• Post consistently: Share tips, stories, or short lessons related to your work and values.
• Show up at events: Attend (or speak at) meetups, panels, webinars—online or in person.
• Engage in your space: Comment on posts, reply to newsletters, or share tools with your audience.

Real Example:
Sarah followed up twice with a prospect—then silence. Instead of giving up, she kept posting helpful content. Weeks later, the prospect came back: “I’ve been seeing your posts—let’s talk again.”

Visibility builds familiarity. Familiarity builds trust. And trust builds action.

Presence Cadence (Suggested):

• Weekly: Share 1 tip or story post
• 2–3x per week: Comment or engage on others' posts
• Monthly: Attend or host 1 event / share 1 resource

Key Action: Stay in the spotlight with value—not noise. Show up consistently, so people never forget what you stand for.