get contacts immediately

what happened

make sure to get the contacts of people who vibe with you quickly. saying "i'll get it later, don't have my phone" will not work — they leave, and they think it's a delaying tactic.

why it's a gotcha

you meet someone great, have a real conversation, and then... nothing. you figure you'll find them later. you won't. events are chaotic, people leave early, and "later" never comes. worse, if you dodge the exchange, they assume you're not interested.

the fix

get LinkedIn/number/email RIGHT THEN. pull out your phone immediately. if they're the one hesitating, offer yours first — lower the friction. the 10 seconds of awkwardness is worth the connection. and it's not just the contact — capture the conversation content too, so you can write a specific follow-up within 48 hours. a good intro is what opens the door to the exchange, and if you planned who to meet beforehand, you'll prioritize getting the contact.