The One Networking Skill You May Be Overlooking

Author

Girvin
May 26, 2025

Today's sponsor

FIRST THINGS FIRST:
Grab your Pocket Guide to Impromptu Conversations
(Essential questions and cues to connect quickly—without sounding rehearsed)

I'm sure you’ve probably read some version of this headline:

“AI is coming for your job.”

But here’s a truth that gets less attention:

The higher AI climbs in capability, the more human your most valuable skills become.

As Justin Welsh recently put it:

❝

As AI gets better, I think the value of authentic connection will increase. Sitting across from someone (in the same room), having an actual conversation, feeling that energy, and building trust will become more appealing than ever.

I completely agree, and have found...

It’s easy to prepare for high-stakes presentations or scheduled 1:1s.

But the real influence?
It’s often built in the moments in between.

Those moments of impromptu conversations.

Impromptu Conversations Matter More Than Ever

In the age of AI, clarity is scalable.
But trust isn’t.

And the people who earn trust quickly?

They don’t just network.

They talk. They spark conversations in elevators, at events, on video calls before the agenda starts.

They don’t always have the perfect line.

But they’re present, curious, and open.

That’s what sticks. That’s what builds reputation.
And it’s also what most experts overlook.

The key to a $1.3T opportunity

A new trend in real estate is making the most expensive properties obtainable. It’s called co-ownership, and it’s revolutionizing the $1.3T vacation home market.

The company leading the trend? Pacaso. Created by the founder of Zillow, Pacaso turns underutilized luxury properties into fully-managed assets and makes them accessible to the broadest possible market.

The result? More than $1b in transactions, 2,000+ happy homeowners, and over $110m in gross profits for Pacaso.

With rapid international growth and 41% gross profit growth last year, Pacaso is ready for what’s next. They even recently reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

But the real opportunity is now, before public markets. Until 5/29, you can join leading investors like SoftBank and Maveron for just $2.80/share.

This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals. Under Regulation A+, a company has the ability to change its share price by up to 20%, without requalifying the offering with the SEC.

What Happens When You Avoid Impromptu Moments?

You start hiding behind preparation.

You say things like:

  • “I’ll wait for the right time to follow up.”

  • “I’m not great at small talk.”

  • “I’ll just let my work speak for itself.”

Meanwhile, the people who seem to “rise fast” are doing something different:

They’re using everyday moments to create connection.

The Secret Structure of a Good Conversation

You don’t need a script.

But you do need a rhythm—especially when your default is to hold back.

Try this flow:

  1. Observe → Comment on something in the environment

  2. Ask → Use a specific, open-ended question (e.g., “What brings you to this?” instead of “How are you?”)

  3. Offer → Share a quick story or insight related to their response

  4. Bridge → Invite follow-up: “I’d love to hear more—want to grab 15 minutes sometime?”

The goal isn’t perfection.
It’s presence + momentum.

***

The Pocket Guide to Impromptu ConversationsSimple cues to connect quickly—without sounding rehearsed 3.84 MB • PDF File

POLL

What’s Your Biggest Challenge With Impromptu Conversations?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

CURATED ROUNDUP
Essential Links

If you're serious about turning your ideas into influence, accelerate the growth of your personal brand on LinkedIn

🌿 Inner Fire Tea Blend by Sykamore Soul: Perfect for creative mornings, study sessions, and deep work sprints.

LEVEL UP
Try This AI Prompt This Week

Use this prompt to get tailored conversation starters based on your environment, industry, or context:

Prompt:

“Act as a conversation coach. I want to improve my ability to start and carry impromptu conversations at [type of event, workplace, or industry]. Generate 5 specific openers I can use this week, based on typical scenarios. Keep them casual but meaningful.”

You can run this daily with new contexts or social settings.

The goal isn’t to memorize lines, but to expand your toolkit so you show up more naturally, more often.

Bottom Line

Impromptu conversations build the kind of influence AI can’t replace

The more digital the world becomes, the more influence belongs to those who can connect—genuinely, quickly, and without a script.

AI will write better email sequences.

It might even analyze conversations better than you can.

But it won’t replace the subtle magic of a well-timed question…
A shared laugh in the hallway…
Or the trust built from simply showing up and being real.

The most influential people in the AI era won’t just know what to say.
They’ll be the ones who know how to start—when there’s no script.

Thanks for reading. Be easy!
Girvin

Like newsletters? Start building your personal library of insights in minutes.

Want to write a newsletter like this one?  Try BEEHIIV for free.