In an era where our attention spans are fragmented by hundreds of unread notifications, the most valuable real estate isn't found on a smartphone screen—it’s on the recipient's physical desk. We are living through a digital communication crisis where 815 unread text messages can feel like an insurmountable weight, and yet we continue to flood each other’s inboxes with the hope of making a connection. If you want to cut through the noise and foster deep professional relationships, you must look beyond the DM and embrace a strategy that billionaires like Jesse Itzler have used for decades: the handwritten letter.
The ‘Inkstain in the Brain’ Concept
Communication is not just about the message; it is about the energy and effort behind it. When you send an email or a message via Meta Ads Manager to a potential business partner, the friction is virtually zero. It takes seconds to type and a click to send. Because the effort is low, the perceived value by the recipient is often equally low. Conversely, a handwritten letter represents a physical investment of time. Writing the note, finding a stamp, licking the envelope, and taking it to the mailbox creates a different psychological impact.
Jesse Itzler, who sold a private jet company to Warren Buffett and helped build Zico Coconut Water, refers to this as creating an "inkstain in the brain." When someone receives a piece of physical mail, they almost always open it. In a world of digital clutter, physical mail is rare, making it memorable. By putting pen to paper, you are planting a seed that lingers long after a digital notification has been swiped away. This is one of the most effective professional networking tips for those looking to reach individuals whose time is guarded by layers of assistants and filters.
The Prerequisite: 'Getting Light' Before You Network
Before you can effectively build high-level relationships, you must manage your own mental and physical environment. You cannot execute high-level influence marketing strategies—like managing your creator partnerships in Stormy AI—if you are carrying around the "baggage" of unread obligations. Itzler advocates for a process called "getting light"—closing out the year or a quarter by clearing out the clutter that drains your momentum.
Getting light involves several actionable steps that any creator or entrepreneur can follow:
- Digital Declutter: Delete apps you don't use and cancel subscriptions that are no longer serving you. One entrepreneur reported saving over $1,300 in monthly subscriptions just by performing this audit.
- Physical Reset: Clean your car, your desk, and your closet. A cluttered workspace often leads to a cluttered mind, hindering your ability to think strategically about your business etiquette for creators.
- Communication Zero: Get your emails and unread texts to zero. Every unread message is a micro-guilt trip that saps the energy you could be using for deep networking.
By "getting light," you move into a state of "attack mode" rather than "catch-up mode." This mental clarity is essential when you are trying to figure out how to network with billionaires or high-value contacts who value efficiency and focus. Once you are light, you have the bandwidth to be intentional with your outreach.
The '25 Letters' Rule: A System for Gratitude
The biggest mistake in networking is only reaching out when you need something. High-value individuals can smell an agenda from a mile away. To build genuine business relationships, you must lead with gratitude. Itzler follows a simple but powerful system: setting a quota of 25 handwritten letters per year (or even 10 to 25) to thank people who have made an impact on his journey.
This is not a task to be outsourced to an assistant. The value lies in the personal touch. You can write these letters on a plane, while watching a game, or during any period of downtime. The goal is to flood the world with good karma without asking for anything in return. Over a decade, this system results in 250 deep, personal connections that no algorithm on Google Ads could ever replicate.
For creators looking to stand out in the competitive world of User-Generated Content (UGC), this strategy is a game-changer. After finishing a campaign for a mobile app, sending a handwritten thank-you note to the marketing manager creates a level of business etiquette for creators that ensures repeat business. While other creators are just another line item in a budget, you become a person they truly know and respect. Tools like Stormy AI for finding UGC creators and influencers can help you find the right brand contacts, but the handwritten note is what secures the long-term partnership.
How to Network with Billionaires and High-Level Assets
Networking with high-net-worth individuals requires a shift in mindset. You shouldn't just think like a billionaire; you should observe how they plan their lives. One key takeaway from Jesse Itzler’s approach is that the calendar is your most honest autobiography. High-level networking is about energy management and being the kind of person others want to be around.
When interacting with high-level contacts, consider these professional networking tips:
- Be Inquisitive: In a world where everyone is trying to sell, be the person who asks questions. Itzler teaches his children to ask guests at least one thoughtful question at dinner. This builds curiosity—a trait that is often lost in a distracted world.
- Show, Don't Just Tell: High-value people respect "doers." If you are trying to impress a mentor, show them your habits. If you are training for a Misogi (a big, year-defining challenge like a marathon or learning a new skill), your discipline speaks louder than any pitch deck.
- Respect the Calendar: Understand that for a billionaire, the calendar is a blank check. If you get time on it, treat it as a high-value investment.
If you are managing app install campaigns and using Stormy AI to track individual videos and campaign performance, you know that data is king. The same applies to networking. Keep an inventory of your year—what worked, what didn’t, and who helped you. Reviewing your "highlight reel" at the end of the year allows you to see the gaps in your network and identify where more gratitude is needed.
The Analog Playbook: A Step-by-Step Workflow
To make the handwritten letter strategy work, you must eliminate friction. If you have to go buy a stamp every time you want to write a note, you won't do it. Follow this playbook to build your networking engine:
Step 1: Build Your Stationery Kit
Keep a dedicated box or drawer with high-quality cards, envelopes, a reliable pen, and a sheet of stamps. Having these stationery kit materials ready means you can write a note the moment inspiration strikes. This is particularly useful for influence marketing strategies where using Stormy AI to automatically enrich creator email addresses allows you to personalize your approach even further.
Step 2: Set a Monthly Quota
Don't wait for the end of the year. Aim to write 2-3 notes per month. These could be for people you’ve met on platforms like Stormy AI, which is an AI-powered platform for creator discovery, especially for mobile app marketing and UGC campaigns, former bosses, or even friends whose work you admire. The goal is to make it a habit, not a chore.
Step 3: Capture Highlights
Keep a running list of your personal and professional highlights. When you write your letters, you can mention specific moments that made an impact on you. This shows the recipient that you are paying attention and that your gratitude is specific, not generic.
Step 4: Execute During Downtime
Use your travel time effectively. Instead of watching a movie on a flight, use that 2-hour window to write 5-10 letters. By the time you land, you’ve done more for your career than a hundred LinkedIn comments ever could. You are spreading "good karma" while others are simply consuming content.
The Misogi: Connecting Networking to Personal Growth
Finally, understand that your network is a reflection of your own growth. Itzler is a proponent of the Misogi, a Japanese ritual where you do one big, year-defining thing every year. Whether it’s running an ultra-marathon or learning to play a difficult piece on the piano, these challenges make you a more interesting and capable person.
When you accomplish something difficult, you naturally attract higher-value people into your circle. It gives you a story to tell and a common ground with other high-achievers. Your business etiquette for creators improves because you have the confidence of someone who has done hard things. If you are a mobile app developer looking for UGC creators who truly understand discipline, look for those who have their own versions of a Misogi.
Conclusion: Start Your First Letter Today
Networking isn't about the number of people you know; it's about the depth of the business relationships you cultivate. In a world dominated by ephemeral digital interactions, the handwritten letter is your secret weapon. It creates a lasting physical presence, proves your commitment, and builds a level of trust that DMs cannot reach.
Your challenge: Before the end of this week, "get light" by clearing your digital clutter, and then write one handwritten letter of gratitude to someone in your professional circle. Don't ask for a favor. Don't pitch a product. Just say thank you. By creating that first "inkstain in the brain," you are starting a system that will yield dividends for the rest of your career.