How do you make a lasting impression when meeting someone for the first time?
That question came up during my recent visit to High Point University, where I have the privilege of serving as a Personal Development Expert in Residence. Each year, I visit the campus to speak with students about leadership, personal development, life skills, and the choices that can help them create greater success.
During this visit, I delivered a keynote presentation, answered questions, and spoke with five different groups around campus. I met many impressive young adults, but two students stood out to me because of something simple and powerful: They did their homework.
Their preparation reminded me that doing your homework is not merely an academic exercise. It is a personal and professional development skill that can help you build stronger relationships, ask better questions, and become more memorable.
Preparation Helps You Stand Out
One of the students I met was Jackson, who wants to become a professional speaker one day. Jackson literally sat in the Front-Row, which naturally caught my attention. But where he sat was not the only thing that made him memorable.
Jackson knew I had recently published my new book, Front-Row Success. He also came prepared with specific questions about my speaking career and how a motivational keynote speaker prepares to deliver a presentation.
Those were not generic questions he could have asked anyone. His questions showed that he had taken time to learn about me, my work, and the profession he hopes to enter.
Because Jackson had done his homework, we were able to move beyond small talk and have a more meaningful conversation.
That is one of the greatest benefits of preparation. It helps you get to the valuable part of a conversation faster.
A Memorable Introduction Begins Before You Enter the Room
The second student who stood out was Tacey, who was part of a small group of business students arranged to have lunch with me. After everyone was seated, Tacey stood up and introduced me to everyone.
I did not know Tacee before that day, and I did not know she was going to introduce me. When she stood up and began speaking, I was impressed by how well prepared she was.
She knew my name and the name of my company, which people do not always get right. She knew I was an author and a Hall of Fame keynote speaker. Most importantly, she understood the philosophy behind my work. She explained that I help people get out of the balcony so they can live and lead from the Front-Row.
Tacey did more than recite a few facts from a biography. She understood the heart of my message.
Her introduction communicated that she had taken her responsibility seriously. She demonstrated preparation, confidence, initiative, and respect. I was so impressed that I jokingly asked if I could take her on the road with me and be my permanent introducer!
Tacey made a lasting impression because she had done the work before she ever stood up to speak.
Why Doing Your Homework Matters
You do not have to be a student to do your homework.
Doing your homework is a life skill. It is also a leadership skill, a networking skill, a communication skill, and a relationship-building skill.
When you prepare before meeting someone, you communicate that the person and the opportunity matter to you. You show respect for the other person’s experience and time. You also give yourself the information you need to ask thoughtful questions and create a genuine connection.
Preparation can also increase your confidence. When you know something about the person, company, organization, or event, you do not have to walk into the room hoping you will think of something intelligent to say. You already have several possible starting points for the conversation.
You are prepared, but you can still be present.
That does not mean you need to know everything about someone before meeting them. It means you have made enough effort to avoid asking questions that a two-minute search could have answered.
How to Prepare for a Professional Meeting
Before an important meeting, spend a few minutes learning about the people who will be in the room.
Review their LinkedIn profiles. Visit the organization’s website. Look for a recent interview, article, video, podcast appearance, company announcement, or professional accomplishment. If you are attending a conference, read the speakers’ biographies and session descriptions before you arrive.
Then use what you learn to develop one or two thoughtful questions.
Instead of asking, “What do you do?” you might say, “I saw that your organization recently expanded into a new market. What have you learned from that experience?”
Instead of asking a speaker to repeat something easily found on their website, you could refer to an idea from their presentation and ask them to elaborate on how it applies in a particular situation.
Specific questions create better conversations because they show that you have been paying attention.
Do Your Homework Before a Job Interview
Research is especially important before a job interview.
Learn about the organization’s mission, clients, culture, products, current priorities, and leadership team. Review the job description closely and look for connections between the organization’s needs and your experience.
If you know the name of the interviewer, review the person’s professional background. You may discover a shared connection, common interest, similar career experience, or recent accomplishment that can help you begin a natural conversation.
Your research will also help you develop stronger questions to ask at the end of the interview.
Candidates often prepare answers but fail to prepare questions. Thoughtful questions demonstrate curiosity, judgment, and a sincere interest in the organization. They can also help you decide whether the opportunity is right for you.
Remember, you are not doing research merely to impress the interviewer. You are gathering information that will help both of you have a more meaningful and productive conversation.
Do Your Homework Before a Networking Event
Many people walk into networking events without a plan. They collect business cards, exchange rehearsed introductions, and hope they happen to meet someone valuable.
A little preparation can turn a random networking experience into a purposeful opportunity.
Before the event, review the list of speakers, sponsors, hosts, or attendees when that information is available. Identify a few people you would genuinely like to meet. Learn something about their work and prepare a relevant question.
This does not mean you should enter the room with a hidden agenda or treat people as transactions. The goal is not to prove how much you know. The goal is to create an informed, authentic connection.
There is an important difference between doing your homework and showing off your homework.
Avoid reciting someone’s entire professional history back to them. That can feel uncomfortable. Instead, use your research as a bridge into a relevant conversation.
Preparation should help you become more curious, not more performative.
Curiosity Is a Leadership Advantage
The best leaders do not assume they already know everything they need to know. They remain curious.
They prepare before important conversations. They learn about the people they serve. They ask questions before forming conclusions. They pay attention to what matters to others instead of waiting for an opportunity to talk about themselves.
This type of curiosity is one of the foundations of emotional intelligence and strategic communication. It helps leaders understand what motivates people, what challenges they are facing, and what kind of support they may need.
Doing your homework can also prevent avoidable mistakes. It reduces the likelihood of mispronouncing a person’s name, misstating a title, overlooking an important accomplishment, or asking a question that reveals you made no effort to prepare.
Preparation says, “You matter enough for me to pay attention.”
That is a message people remember.
Preparation Creates Front-Row Opportunities
Jackson and Tacey were not merely present. They were prepared.
There is a big difference.
You can physically sit in the Front-Row and still remain disengaged. You can also show up with a Front-Row mindset from anywhere in the room by being curious, prepared, and ready to contribute.
Preparation is one of the ways we choose a better seat in life. It helps us participate instead of merely observe. It allows us to recognize opportunities, enter conversations with confidence, and create connections that may not have happened otherwise.
Sometimes success begins long before you enter the room. It begins when you take ten minutes to learn about the person you are about to meet.
Your Front-Row Challenge
Think about one important meeting, interview, presentation, networking event, or conversation you have coming up.
Spend ten minutes doing your homework. Visit the person’s LinkedIn profile or website. Read something they have written. Watch a video. Learn about the organization they represent. Look for a meaningful point of connection.
Then develop one thoughtful question based on what you discovered.
Do not ask the question simply to demonstrate how much research you completed. Ask it because you are genuinely interested in the answer.
Thank you, Jackson and Tacey, for reminding me that you do not have to be a student to do your homework.
Stay curious. Be prepared. Ask better questions. That is how you create stronger connections, leave a lasting impression, and continue to live and lead from the Front-Row.
Your Head Usher,
Marilyn
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make a lasting impression when meeting someone?
Prepare before the meeting, learn something meaningful about the person, and ask a thoughtful question based on genuine curiosity. People are more likely to remember how interested and present you were than how much you talked about yourself.
Why is preparation important in professional relationships?
Preparation demonstrates initiative, respect, and interest. It also helps you communicate more confidently, avoid generic conversations, and identify meaningful points of connection.
How much research should I do before meeting someone?
For most professional conversations, ten minutes of focused research can make a significant difference. Review the person’s LinkedIn profile, company website, recent work, or professional biography. The goal is to find enough context to ask a relevant question.
What should I research before a job interview?
Research the organization’s mission, products, services, culture, leadership, recent developments, and current challenges. You should also study the job description and, when possible, learn about the professional background of the person interviewing you.
How should I prepare for a networking event?
Review the event agenda, speakers, sponsors, and attendee list when available. Identify a few people you would genuinely like to meet and prepare a relevant conversation starter or thoughtful question for each one.
How can I use LinkedIn to prepare for a meeting?
Review the person’s current role, professional history, recent posts, articles, interests, and shared connections. Use that information to understand their perspective and find an appropriate starting point for conversation.
What is the difference between preparation and trying to impress someone?
Preparation is focused on understanding the other person and creating a better conversation. Trying to impress someone is focused on proving how much you know. Good preparation makes you more curious, thoughtful, and attentive.
