The lesson
On the third touch, stop asking for a meeting only; ask to be pointed to the right person and admit you're persistent.
The move
Subject: "Hopefully of interest". The body is a few short paragraphs to Clark: "Third times a charm!", then "As you can tell, I am very keen to speak with the Daily Planet." The ask is two-part: if "barking up the wrong tree", point to the right person; if right, "can we speak?" It is signed "Steve".
Why it works
- Our readNaming the persistence outright, with "As you can tell", takes the sting out of a third message.
- Our readThe two-branch ask means a reader who isn't the buyer can still do something useful in one reply.
What not to copy
Don't copy the tree joke; humor like "not that I'm calling you a tree" only works if it fits your voice. Keep the 'wrong person' exit and the short length.
