When I was young, I sent letters and poems to my favorite celebrities like Shakira, Britney Spears and Tokio Hotel (Fine. Maybe I wasn’t that young). The only time I received a response was from Tokio Hotel’s photographer, asking me to buy their concert portraits. I felt special. So I did.
When we communicate with someone, we expect a response. We want to feel good. Naturally, when there is no response, we feel ignored. Not worthy. Bad.
As we get older, our fan mail shifts from celebrities to key influencers in our industries. Letters turn into e-mails, LinkedIn connections, and social media shout-outs.
So what should you do when they don’t answer?
It’s simple: Try again or move on.
I asked this question to a Vice President of a global movie production company, who said, “We want to help and support the next generation in their journey upward. The thing is, we’re just really busy. Often, I think I responded to an e-mail when I actually haven’t. Sometimes the e-mails just get lost in my inbox. If I don’t respond in 2-3 weeks, e-mail me again and I’ll get back to you.”
If you’re experiencing this, give it time. Find and reach out to similar professionals. Send messages to multiple people. Create a spreadsheet with contact dates and success rates. Observe what worked and adapt your approach as necessary. You never know which door will open and when.