“People never get the flowers when they can still smell ‘em”
- K. West

If there’s someone who’s work you admire and has influenced your life, take a moment to that person a note to tell them so.  The worst someone can do is not reply. But what if this person wrote you back? What if they answered a question for you that changed the trajectory of your life?

When reaching out to someone you admire, keep in mind the following things:

1. Make it short, so it’s easy to digest. They are likely very busy, and if they see a long email from you they will feel inclined to write a long email back. And because that takes time and thought, they’ll “put it off until later” so they can give it the time it deserves. Which might not ever happen. So keep it short - a quick one minute read - and you’ll be more likely to get a response!

2. Share something specific that you admire about them. Which particular idea of theirs changed your life? Is there a specific blog post they wrote that really resonated with you? Provide details about why their work means so much to you. It will help lay the groundwork for an authentic connection. If you have a specific question to ask, do so but make sure it one that you couldn’t anticipate (or Google) the answer to. (Just don’t forget rule #1, keep it short!)

3. Share how you have taken action or will be taking action. People love to know that you’ve taken their advice or followed their lead. Even more than that, they love to know that you got results! Be sure to include any personal story you might have that demonstrates these things. This provides tremendous value to the person you’re writing. (We speak from personal experience! We LOVE getting emails from LITGers that show they’ve taken action) But remember rule #1 and be concise : )

Good luck and have fun with today’s challenge! Let us know how in the comments below how it goes for you!

PS - Sometimes it can be hard to find a person’s email address. Be a detective on their website or Google and also check out this article. If you still can’t find their email address, send them a tweet or leave a comment on their blog! Don’t let a silly thing like not finding an email address stop you from expressing your gratitude!