Why I Won’t “Chat” With You

The problem

I get a lot of emails from people who want to set up phone calls or get together for coffee so we can “chat.” I have too work to do for a chat. Don’t you?

I will do a lot

Before I tell you why I will absolutely NOT get together and chat, let me tell you what I AM willing to do to help.

– I will spend hours researching, doing and editing interviews for you with incredible businesspeople who will teach you how to build your business.

– I will spend up to 30 minutes on a call with you — and with ANYONE else — talking about a specific business issue and I’ll help you think it through. And if you try to offer me money for my time, I’ll refuse it. (I try to do one of these calls every day. I want to do more, but I don’t have enough time in the day.)

– I will invite you out to an event where we can have a drink and chat in person. Usually events are social, so we don’t need an agenda.

Why I don’t chat at work

Chats are aimless conversations that often don’t go anywhere. They’re great at cocktail parties, but at work, they’re a waste of time. At work, they’re the kind of conversations that people who hate their jobs turn to so they can escape the pain of spending time at their desks.

Occasionally, people who suggest a chat actually DO have an agenda, but they’re afraid to reveal their aim when they request a “chat.” They want to spring the purpose of their conversation on me in a phone call or in person because they want to present their mission just right. The problem with that is that I’m walking into a conversation completely unprepared. I don’t know if I’m going to be hit up for a big loan, or asked for help with an issue that I haven’t looked into, or if something else.

If I know ahead of time what the purpose is, I can help even more by preparing ahead of time, or, if I can’t help, I can admit upfront that I can’t help and save us both some time.