A few years ago, I watched a charming movie called The Intern, starring Robert De Niro. It tells the story of a 70-year-old widower who joins a young, high-tech company as part of a program for retirees.
Surrounded by 20- and 30-somethings, the film beautifully illustrates the generational and communication gaps in today’s digital world.
One scene stuck with me: A young intern tells De Niro about a woman he used to date at the company. He’d upset her, and she wouldn’t talk to him. De Niro asks, “Did you talk to her, did you apologize?”
The intern replies, “Sure! I texted her a billion times, emailed her, even sent her a sad emoticon.”
De Niro says, “What about actually talking to her?”
The intern pauses… “Do you think that would help?”
This scene captures a truth not only about Generation Y, but about all of us today.
We’ve grown used to “hiding behind the keyboard” – messaging instead of calling, emailing instead of meeting, texting instead of showing up.
And it’s costing us connection, clarity, and business.
Why Face-to-Face Still Wins
In a digital-first world, face-to-face communication is more powerful than ever.
When it comes to marketing, sales, and influence, here’s how the methods rank – from most effective to least:
1. Lectures and Presentations – Highest conversion rate.
2. One-on-One In-Person Meetings – Personal, direct, and persuasive.
3. Phone Calls – Still allows for nuance and real-time dialogue.
4. WhatsApp Messages – Seen as more intimate and familiar.
5. Text Messages (SMS) – Perceived as formal or distant.
6. Emails – Easy to ignore and impersonal.
7. Social Media Messages – Often lost in the noise.
Notice something? The further we move from real, human contact, the lower the impact.
WhatsApp vs. Text: A Small but Powerful Signal
Why does WhatsApp outperform regular text messages?
It signals closeness.
It places you in the same mental category as the recipient’s friends, family, and trusted contacts – rather than with advertisements, reminders, and bots.
That subtle difference creates real psychological weight.
Even formal messages sent via WhatsApp carry more perceived warmth and familiarity.
So What Should You Do Differently?
If you want to:
Stand out from your competitors
Build real relationships with your clients
Sell more and communicate with greater impact
Then step out from behind the keyboard.
✅ Call your clients instead of just emailing.
✅ Offer face-to-face meetings or presentations.
✅ Use WhatsApp when appropriate – it feels more personal.
✅ Publish a printed book if you want to position yourself as an authority.
✅ Initiate real-world events: lectures, company visits, conferences.
Even in the age of AI, Zoom, and social media, the brain hasn’t changed. People trust people – not screens.
Bottom line:
Don’t just message. Don’t just post. Show up. Speak. Meet. Be remembered.
It’s how you build authority, close deals, and stay human in a digital world.
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