We make snap decisions every day. Malcolm Gladwell, author of the book Blink, calls these occurrences "blink moments."

The “blink moment” I'm most interested in has to do with relationships. Particularly, that moment when you realize the person in front of you is someone worth hanging on to.

When I was in 6th grade, I traveled on a school-sponsored chess tournament. During a match, I heard a kid start laughing a couple tables behind me (he was laughing because he'd lost his match so quickly). I turned around, made eye contact, and we ended up hanging out when the tournament was over... we've been best friends ever since. That kid’s name was Billy. Today, he's a Colonel in the Air Force but to me, he's just that laughing kid.

Think back to when you first met your best friend, or your significant other. Now recall the moment you “clicked.” Remember how that felt? You realized how totally comfortable you were talking to them. They were really listening to what you were saying, and you were doing the same. It felt genuine. You were able to be your real, true self, and they were, too. And when you parted ways, you were both left wanting more.

There are lessons here that can be applied to your real estate business and the way you build relationships. By examining these types of meetings—these interactions that resulted in mutual attraction—we can better understand how to make more immediate, genuine connections with our leads and the people we meet in passing.