When a stranger Direct Messages me on LinkedIn, with a message firmly positioning me as a prospect before any other human role, it feels like this stranger just walked up and interrupted me.
It feels like they’re stood square on and too close. Before grabbing and shaking my reluctant right hand as hard and for as long as they can. Asking me questions about mortgages or finance or roofing or leads or AI. All before I’ve said a word.
Like Ned Ryerson, the pushy, sugary, self-serving and superficial insurance chap in Groundhog Day that Phil Connors (Bill Murray) encounters just before the puddle.
Every. Single. Day.
100% of the time, I block when this happens on LinkedIn. Not because I don’t necessarily have a need for what they do. I just don’t like rude people. And this is rude. So that’s that.
The long hello is better. Sauntering gently into my peripheral vision. Being useful and generous and interesting a couple of times each week. Staying front-of-mind because what’s being said is valuable. Palatable. And patient.
Nose-to-nose with a boring, rude, assumptive stranger? Nah.
The long hello is best.