Before you ever talk business, make them feel like a person — not a prospect.
Ask about their family. Their job. What they do for fun. What they're dreaming about. The F.O.R.D. method: Family, Occupation, Recreation, Dreams.
Then go deeper. Don't just hear their answer follow up on it. Mirror their energy. Show genuine curiosity. When someone feels truly heard in the first 5 minutes, they spend the rest of the meeting trusting you. And trust closes deals not scripts.
"Appointments aren't about proving you're smart they're about proving you CARE."