As a business coach, I’m always looking for books that can provide real, actionable insights to help people get unstuck and grow their businesses. This month, I want to introduce you to a game-changing book: How to Get a Meeting with Anyone by Stu Heinecke. This book is a must-read for anyone in business, sales, or entrepreneurship who wants to master the art of breaking through to key decision-makers.
Why This Book?
Stu Heinecke, a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, marketing expert, and cartoonist, is the pioneer of Contact Marketing, a concept that is all about getting in front of the right people in a creative, meaningful way. If you can’t get meetings, you can’t grow your business, and this book is all about how to land those critical meetings that can change your business trajectory.
What is Contact Marketing?
Contact Marketing is not just about cold calling or generic outreach. It’s about highly personalized, creative, and strategic ways to get in front of high-value prospects. Stu didn’t invent the idea, but he has defined it in a way that makes it incredibly actionable and effective.
One of my favorite takeaways from the book is the power of personalization. Stu shares example after example of how small but highly tailored gestures—like sending a custom cartoon or even using a carrier pigeon—can grab the attention of decision-makers and lead to six or seven-figure deals.
Key Lessons from the Book:
- Creativity Wins: Standard emails and LinkedIn messages won’t cut it. You need to stand out in a way that makes people stop and pay attention.
- Humor is a Secret Weapon: Cartoons, personalized jokes, and clever messaging can break the ice and make people more receptive to your outreach.
- Physical Mail is Underrated: In a world overloaded with digital noise, sending something tangible—like a custom-made cartoon, a framed piece of art, or even a well-crafted letter—has a much higher chance of getting noticed.
- Get Out of Your Own Way: Many people hesitate to try bold approaches because they fear rejection or looking “cheesy.” Stu encourages us to be audacious, take risks, and have fun with our outreach.
- Gatekeepers Are Allies: Instead of seeing executive assistants as obstacles, involve them in the experience so they become your champions.
- Know Your Audience: Customization is key. Take the time to research your prospect and find something that resonates deeply with them.
- Follow Up with Persistence: Sometimes, one piece of outreach won’t do the trick. But when done correctly, Contact Marketing can yield nearly 100% response rates.
My THINK BIG Take
This book aligns perfectly with my coaching philosophy: execution is sandwiched between stillness and reflection. To get results, you need to slow down, think, strategize, and then execute with precision. Being bold doesn’t mean being reckless—it means being strategic, personalized, and audacious.
Reading this book reminded me of how important it is to take control of your outreachand not just blend into the noise.
How to get UNSTUCK and Apply It to Your Business Today
- Identify 5-10 Key Prospects – Make a list of the people who could have the biggest impact on your business.
- Research Them Deeply – Use LinkedIn, podcasts, interviews, or social media to find out what matters to them.
- Create a Custom Contact Marketing Plan – Whether it’s a handwritten note, a funny cartoon, or a creative package, plan a unique way to get their attention.
- Execute and Follow Up – Send the item and follow up in a way that adds even more value.
- Track Your Results and Refine Your Approach – Keep testing and refining to see what works best.
Taking Action!
If you’re tired of cold calls and ignored emails, you need to read this book.
If you want to grow your business, scale your revenue, and create deeper connections, you have to be bold, creative, and intentional.
You can listen to my full THINK Business interview with the author and my co-host Nick Kallabat here:
https://jondwoskin.com/2025/02/think-business-live-jon-dwoskin-talks-with-stu-heinecke-and-co-host-nick-kallabat/
THINK BIG!
JD
