Well, I got a lot of feedback from yesterday’s email about “brain-pickers” …

Most of it was positive, with people agreeing with me. But I had a few commenting that it’s important to give help to people who reach out to you.

So I want to clarify:

I wasn’t saying that you shouldn’t help people.

If someone emails me with a question, of course I answer (I responded to a few such emails yesterday). If I can do something to help someone – that doesn’t throw my day off course – I’ll do it.

That’s just good business.

But what I am saying is to not spend time on calls with people who want to “pick your brain” (which often go well over an hour, and could be many hours including follow-up calls and emails.)

My discovery calls are booked into 30 minute slots and have one objective: to see what the person’s goals are, and determine whether I can help that person (and let him/her know how I can best do that).  Value is given in the calls, but they aren’t hour(s)-long coaching or “brain-picking” sessions.

I’ve seen a disturbing trend in the coaching (and entrepreneurial) world, where we’re expected to give away our time for free.

Since so many coaches are offering free help, you’ll get some blowback when you introduce boundaries.

You’ll be called selfish, and attacked for actually protecting your time.

But remember, your time is extremely valuable.

Your experience is worth A LOT.

Don’t give it away for free …