One system of record. Pick it, set three stages, and decide when you'll work it.
How to use this: the Manifest is the one place every lead and client lives, your single source of truth. You could run it on index cards, but follow-up by hand gets laborious, so have a CRM. The one rule: everyone goes in. If it's not in the Manifest, it doesn't exist.
1 · Your CRM choice
Pick one. The best CRM is the one you'll actually open every day. Simple beats powerful.
Travefymost-rated, full-featured
TravelJoylightweight, new/small
Ternwhat we run + demo
Othersimplest thing that holds a name
2 · Your pipeline stages (five, the profit is in the follow-up)
Name them in your own words. Three stages throws away the money: the maybes you'd nurture and the advocates who'd refer. The two flagged stages are where the profit hides.
Stage 1, the raised hand
default: New inquiry
Stage 2, didn't book yet ▲ profit hides here
default: Nurturing, follow up now and later
Stage 3, they committed
default: Booked
Stage 4, traveled, where you cultivate
default: Past client
Stage 5, sends you referrals ▲ referrals
default: Advocate
3 · Your daily rhythm
say it out loud, that's how it sticks: "8:30am, with coffee"
add anyone new · move one card forward · send one follow-up · (your fourth)
4 · Your canned responses (Second Mate drafts these)
Ask your Second Mate to draft each, then make it sound like you. The AI drafts, you keep the relationship.
5 · The funnel rule
other tools are spokes; the Manifest is the hub
The one rule: every name, number, and email goes into your one system of record, no exceptions. If it's not in the Manifest, it doesn't exist.
Put your Second Mate to work
Two prompts to try now. The full set is in the library, How to Prompt Your Second Mate. Swap the [brackets] for your details.
Is it worth my time?
I'm a [NICHE] advisor. Here's a new inquiry: [PASTE]. Score it 1 to 10 for fit (niche, budget, commission) and tell me: work it now, nurture for later, or pass, and why.
A reply for every stage
Using my voice guide [PASTE], write a canned response for each stage: reply to a new inquiry, welcome when they book, and a check-in for a past client. One clear next step each.
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