The 3-Call Rule for Relationship-Building

⏳ Read Time: Less than 4 min.

I’m thrilled to welcome you to this week’s edition of The Winning Edge.

Let’s face it—networking has a branding problem. Too many people think it means handing out business cards or collecting LinkedIn connections like it’s a game.

But real networking? It’s not about working the room.
It’s about building relationships that outlast the moment—the kind that unlock new clients, partnerships, promotions, and even life-changing introductions.

This week, I’m breaking down a smarter way to connect—with intention, strategy, and authenticity.
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This Week’s Insights

✅ The 3-Call Rule That Builds Real Relationships (Even If You Hate Networking)
✅ Why Leading With “Help” Beats Asking for It
✅ AI Prompt to Draft Follow-Up Notes That Actually Get Replies
✅ Copilot for CRM – Turning conversations into relationship-building tasks
✅ Power Move – The 5-Second Compliment That Opens Any Door

THE MAIN EVENT
🎤 The 3-Call Rule for Relationship-Building

Here’s a simple relationship strategy I teach executives and founders that changes the game:

💡 “Stop networking. Start reconnecting.”

Most people chase new contacts. But the real gold? It’s in the warm leads you've gone cold on.

Enter: the 3-Call Rule

Each week, reach out to 3 people you already know, but haven’t spoken to in months.

• A former colleague

• A past client

• A speaker you met at a conference

• Someone you used to grab coffee with

You don’t need a reason. Just check in.

🎯 Message template:
“Hey [Name], you crossed my mind today. Would love to hear what you’re working on these days—want to catch up for 15 minutes sometime soon?”

9 out of 10 times, people say yes. Why? Because it’s low-pressure, human, and NOT transactional.

QUICK HITTERS: Fast Wins for the Week

💡 Tip of the Week:
Your strongest relationships are built when there’s nothing to gain. Reach out when you don’t need something. That’s what makes it real.

📊 Stat of the Week:
According to LinkedIn, 85% of jobs and business opportunities come through existing connections—not strangers.

🎭 Power Move:
Lead with a 5-second compliment.

“I’ve always respected how you…”
It disarms people and builds immediate trust.

📖 Recommended Read:
“Superconnector” by Scott Gerber & Ryan Paugh – A practical guide to building high-impact networks based on trust, not volume.

WEEKLY DEEP DIVE
The Art of “Silent Authority”

Here’s something most people get wrong:
They think visibility = opportunity.

But just being visible isn’t enough. It’s the value you deliver in your relationships that makes people remember you, refer you, and want to work with you.

✅ Show up with curiosity
✅ Offer something small but thoughtful
✅ Stay in touch (before you “need” them)

🎤 “Be someone they’re glad to hear from—whether or not they need anything.”

Build enough of those relationships, and you’ll never have to “network” again. Your network will do the work for you.

AI TIP OF THE WEEK

Prompt of the Week:
"Write a warm, casual follow-up note to [Name] after a great conversation. Mention [topic], and offer a helpful article/resource we discussed."

💼 Use this after meetings, coffees, or networking events.
ChatGPT or Copilot will generate polished, friendly messages that get replies—and keep the door open.

💡 Pro Tip: Save your best ones as templates in your CRM or notes app so you can reuse and tweak them later.

💻 Copilot for CRM: The Relationship Builder You Didn’t Know You Had

If you're using a CRM like HubSpot, Salesforce, or Microsoft Dynamics, you're sitting on a goldmine of connections and opportunities—but only if you're actively nurturing those relationships.

That’s where Copilot for CRM becomes a relationship superpower.

It turns forgotten follow-ups, buried notes, and scattered interactions into a system for meaningful connection.

🤖 What Copilot Can Do:

✅ Turn Conversations into CRM Updates Automatically
Just had a Zoom or Teams call? Copilot can pull the transcript or notes, extract action items, and log them into your CRM without you lifting a finger.

✅ Summarize Relationship History Instantly
Ask:
“What’s the last 3 touch points I’ve had with Alex Thompson?”
Copilot will pull up emails, meetings, and notes—so you walk into every conversation fully prepared.

✅ Generate Smart Follow-Ups Based on Context
After a sales call or check-in, prompt Copilot:
“Draft a follow-up email for Alex, thanking him for the meeting and referencing the marketing partnership idea we discussed.”

✅ Suggest Next Steps for Relationship Building
If it’s been 3 months since your last call with a key contact, Copilot can prompt:
“It’s been a while since you checked in with Alex. Want to send a quick note or schedule a follow-up?”

💡 How to Use It Weekly

Here’s a practical workflow to try:

1. Pick 3–5 key contacts you want to stay in touch with

2. Use Copilot to summarize your last interaction with each

3. Ask Copilot to suggest personalized follow-ups or calendar reminders

4. Copy/paste or tweak and send your message within minutes

✅ In 15–20 minutes, you’ve deepened 5 high-value relationships—without the overwhelm.

ACTION STEPS & COMMUNITY QUESTION

This week, try the 3-Call Rule—reach out to 3 people you haven’t connected with in a while.

✅ Who came to mind just now? Reach out today.

📩 What happened? Hit reply and tell me how it went—I may share a few success stories next week!

P.S.
Next week’s topic is 🔥: Presentation Mastery—and I’ll reveal the subtle technique top speakers use to lock in audience attention in the first 20 seconds.

(You’ve seen it before. You just didn’t realize how powerful it is.)

YOUR OPINION MATTERS!

If you have more feedback or just want to get in touch, respond to this email, and we’ll get back to you!

Thanks for reading!

Until next week!

Mary Beth