Side Quests · Small missions. Real progress.
Time: 15 minutes with your chosen tool already available Cost: Free using a spreadsheet You’ll need: Five existing business contacts and your calendar.
You had a useful conversation, promised to reconnect, and then lost it somewhere between your inbox and your to-do list. Today’s quest is not to build a complicated sales system. It is to give five real relationships a clear next step.
Your mission: Create one small follow-up list and set a reminder you will actually see. A contact is not automatically a sales lead, and a reminder is not permission to send marketing.
Your five-step quest
- Choose one home for your list.
Open a spreadsheet, your existing contact manager, or a private note. Use four fields: name, context, next action, and follow-up date. Do not spend today’s session comparing software. - Add five people you already know.
Start with past clients, collaborators, or people who invited you to stay in touch. Skip purchased lists and scraped community members. Add only the contact details you need. - Write the useful context.
Use a short factual note: “Asked about a product-photo project in October” or “Offered to introduce me to another local seller.” Avoid copying sensitive client information into a new tool. - Choose one helpful next action for each person.
Replace “chase” with something specific, such as sending the example you promised, asking whether a project date has changed, or sharing a relevant resource. Leave out anyone who has asked not to be contacted. - Set the first reminder.
Choose a sensible date based on the conversation. Put the action in your calendar or contact manager, then draft one message. Review it personally before sending. Success today is a usable system, not a guaranteed reply.
Copy this follow-up outline
Hi [name], we spoke about [specific topic]. I said I would [promised action], so here is [useful item or update]. Is [one relevant next step] still useful for you?
Optional tool, not a prerequisite
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Already using a contact manager, or ready to move beyond a spreadsheet? folk supports contact notes and dated reminders. Check its current plans before signing up; account setup is extra time. In a shared workspace, review reminder visibility rather than assuming your notes are private.
Quest complete when: Five contacts have a clear next action and your first reminder is set. No new subscription is required.
Tool references: folk’s notes guide and reminder and visibility guide. Checked September 8, 2026.
