2 min read –
Do you need some contacts? –
To develop your business –
Be more specific, please –
My inbox pings, and there it is again: the question that makes my eyes roll harder than a Jakarta traffic jam
Do you have any contacts in this or that industry?
It’s like walking into a bakery and asking, “Do you have bread?”
Well, of course, I have contacts. My network is my net worth, and I’ve spent years building relationships.
“Do you have a contact?” is a question that feels innocent, but reveals a lack of clarity and preparation.
A good network is not a vending machine. It’s a craft and a key to solving problems.
Consultants like us don’t collect business cards for fun. We use relationships to solve things, Open doors, Get insights, Build trust, Close deals.
A contact is valuable only when it’s part of a well-thought-out strategy.
Asking “Do you have a contact?” is like asking a chef, “Do you have ingredients?”
It’s vague, directionless, and shows zero effort to define the actual need.
A consultant’s value lies in leveraging those relationships to deliver results, not in handing out phone numbers like candy at a parade.
When you ask this question, it’s like saying, “I have no idea what I need, but can you do my homework for me?”
A contact for what? To introduce you to a CEO? To secure a permit? To negotiate a deal?
Vague questions waste everyone’s time and signal you haven’t done your homework.
Instead of “Got any contacts ?” try
“We’re launching a fintech app in Jakarta next quarter. Can you connect us with regulators or local partners to streamline compliance?”.
“I’m looking to meet logistics companies who handle mining operations in Kalimantan, preferably mid-sized, active on the East Coast, and open to international partnerships. Do you think someone in your network could help?”
“We want to understand procurement practices in state-owned utilities for power transformers over 100 MVA. Could you assist or introduce someone who could?”
“We’re planning to enter the market next year with a budget of USD 100K for business development. Can we explore together how to leverage your network for the right targets?”
Now those are questions we can work with. Specific and actionable.
So, next time you’re tempted to ask a consultant, “Do you have any contacts?”, pause and assume the answer is yes (because, trust me, it is).
Then, do some homework and ask for what you really need.
Don’t get us wrong, we also ask this question all the time!
And this is how we phrase it :
Do you have any contacts … in Western technical companies struggling with their export strategy into ASEAN?
If you do, please reach out to us in private, we have a 10% commission fee for you 😊.
We are CINTASIA, we bring your technology and industrial equipment to Indonesia and Asean.
PS: About the 10% commission, read our post at https://lnkd.in/dg-P4pGA
Picture: Mentors Outreach