… But just write it down.
That's a very simple lesson. Remembering everything well is not possible, but there are other reasons why it is wise to write down what you discussed in a conversation. Not only to build relationships, but also to be able to find exactly what you have agreed or promised. In order to be able to prove, if necessary, what has been spoken off (do not forget to always confirm this).
That's why we keep repeating that using a simple CRM system is important and useful not only for large companies, but also for single-burners, self-employed and freelancers.
What we ourselves really like is to be able to look back at what was discussed last time. What did we talk about then and what were next steps. Especially with agreements that didn't come to a concrete conclusion at the time, but we said "let's get back in touch in six months" it is very nice to be able to find out very quickly what was discussed then. This way you can immediately resume the conversation without having to start again from scratch.
That's what a simple CRM is so useful for. No long and difficult fill-in fields, just make a quick note on a contact and save it!