Can we talk about the unspoken rule of trading referrals at meetups?

I was at a Phoenix chamber event last Tuesday and heard two people at the next table arguing. One guy said he only sends referrals to people he's known for at least 2 years. The other said he'll send one after a single coffee chat if the vibe is right. I've been networking here for about 5 years and I lean somewhere in the middle, but that conversation got me thinking. Some folks treat referrals like a currency you hoard until trust is earned through months of favors. Others see it as a fast way to build goodwill, even if a few leads flop. Which side do you land on? Do you have a minimum time or number of interactions before you'll pass someone's name along, or are you faster than that? Curious what's actually working for people in Arizona, because I've seen both approaches blow up in different ways.

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sethc1417d ago

Had a buddy out in Mesa who burned himself bad on this exact thing. He met some solar guy at a Scottsdale mixer, thought the vibe was great, sent him three homeowner referrals in the first month. Turned out the guy was a total flake, never showed up to appointments, and two of those homeowners called my buddy pissed off asking why he'd vouch for someone like that. Took him almost a year to rebuild trust with one of those homeowners. Now he jokes he needs a signed blood oath before he'll pass along anyone's name. I'm probably closer to that side now honestly, one good coffee chat just ain't enough to risk my own reputation on.