“Can I pick your brain?”
No you cannot.
Not now. Not ever.
That expression makes my skin crawl… mostly because I’m literal with words…
I picture you slicing my cranium like the apes in Indian Jones and the Temple of Doom, and prodding around aggressively until you find what you think you need.
Feels violating.
One piece of advice… the people you admire and want to ask questions of hate it too.
But it’s what you were taught wasn’t it?
Hell even I imply it, when I tell you to boldly “ask questions”.
Guess I need to start qualifying it, and list what questions not to ask… (whoops).
So why don’t people like this query?
Well snoochie boochie, it raises a red flag that you’re looking for a quick band-aid fix to your problem instead of wanting to invest in a long term solution (or a framework/system).
You may not be like that, but that’s the impression.
You’ll be lumped in that category by association.
What can you say instead?
Maybe there’s a script you can use?
Something like…
Subject: Can I buy you lunch?
Hi Jason [Zook],
You teach great work on your site and podcast. Last year, [I built a successful $10K launch from scratch in only ten days because of your advice]. Thank you!
I wanted to ask a few specific questions about how I’m marketing my latest work.
Can I buy you lunch?
I’d love to treat you to a delicious meal and ask you in person. Questions that I can send beforehand too.
Have a place in mind we can go?
Otherwise, since I know you’re into farm-to-table dining, how about Northern Spy in the East Village? (Best dining experience I’ve ever had.)
[insert link to restaurant]
Sound good?
If so, how about Tuesday next week?
[Be well]
– {Your name}
[insert contact information and link to a page about you]
—
Yes, I’m risking the money in your pocket to have a one-to-one with a VIP you say you admire.
If that bothers you, you’re in the wrong place.
You need to unsubscribe by clicking here because my daily content will only offend you.
…
OK he’s gone now.
Just us.
Most likely, you won’t set a lunch date on this alone.
This script works because unlike others who reach out for free advice, you offered to invest in it, and even feed them.
Know how often people do that?
Rarely.
Never.
(Like a family dog that doesn’t get fed, they’re ignored… and sooo hungry.)
More times than not, your VIP will offer you support, for free, simply because you stand out.
So it’s worth the “risk”.
But again, it’s not really a risk.
Even if you do pay for lunch, imagine what you’ll learn. Imagine what more you can learn from this relationship as you nurture it.
Imagine the stories you’ll tell people.
Imagine how many mistakes and embarrassments you’ll avoid with your new eagle vision. Seeing obstacles before they arise.
All because of a simple lunch.
Lunch is the investment for advice and tailored support that would normally cost hundred.
Depending on who you reach out to… thousands.
Plus what you learn will be tailored to you, and not the typical generic broadcast advice he or she would send you via email.
…
Emails That Earn Quick Replies is packed with scripts like this for the ambitious action-taker.
When you buy your copy today you’ll learn how to use a script like this, and then follow UP regularly with a goodwill script found on page 10.
In a couple months, once you’ve built good rapport, you can use one of the 6 pitches in EEQR to then propose an irressitible collaboration.
You win in the short term. You win in the longterm.
And since my maddening advice is based in relationship design… your VIP wins too.
Win-Win-Win.
Take Saturday and Sunday to learn email strategies like these, and start planning how you’ll use them in the coming workweek.
You won’t spend thousands to own it.
It’s even less than the lunch tab at my favorite Manhattan restaurant.
Still not cheap though.
Question is, are you worth your lunch money?
Invest in yourself, so VIPs can pick you out from the crowd and invest in you too.
Be well,
Max!