‘Anybody’ gets you nobody.

So many times over the last two and a half decades, and probably for many years before that, I’ve heard people ask for help by requesting introductions to ‘anybody who might need my help’.

Such vague and open requests put the burden of work on the person you’re asking to help you. Surely that’s not the way it should be. Don’t expect others to do your work, make it as easy as possible for them to support you and you can do that by being bizarrely specific, as clear as you can possibly be, about what you are looking for from them.

Whether you are asking for a referral, looking for a new job, seeking advice or requesting any other type of support, make sure that the person you are asking knows exactly how they can help you and what you need.