"Can we chat?" "Can we hop on a quick call?" "Can I get your opinion about something - it will only take 5 minutes!" Sound Familiar?!
When someone asks to "pick your brain", it usually doesn't seem like a big deal to say yes. It's a little flattering, right? Someone thinks enough of you and your business to want to know your opinion! And seriously, don’t be a jerk, you have 2 minutes to answer a quick DM, don't you?! Information is so easily accessible to us on the internet that it seems harmless to shoot someone a question or use their scheduling link to schedule a quick call. The problem comes in when the person asking the questions, thinking that the answer is a super simple 1-2 sentence response, doesn't realize that the answer is actually years of training and research. Most of what I've learned in my business, I've figured out through (a lot) of trial and error. If I couldn't figure it out through my good friends Google and YouTube, I purchased online courses that would help me learn that info. It didn't happen overnight, that's for sure. Things to consider when someone asks to pick your brain: ➡️ You're essentially devaluing your expertise - because if I'm going to go to coffee and talk (for free!) for an hour about how to set up a funnel, then I'm going to have a hard time justifying my rate for a VIP day to you.
➡️ When you give away your time, you've stopped working on revenue-generating activities for your own business. ➡️Giving away lots of free advice isn't fair to your paying clients. So now...the hard part. How to respond when someone asks to pick your brain without sounding (or feeling) like a total jerk?
Here are a few options:
Direct them to another source (book/podcast/FB group), so that you can be kind and helpful while still protecting your time. Ex: “Oh, such a good question! You should definitely check out xxx podcast. The host talks about list building frequently, and I think it would be super helpful to you!"
Offer them your lead magnet/freebie. Ex: "I'm so glad you asked! I have a free download on this exact topic. Here's the sign up page link!"
Establish a consultation rate, then create a payment link for that rate. Ex. "Absolutely, I'd love to chat with you about xyz. Here's the link to book a strategy session with me"
Am I saying never answer a question? Of course not! I love helping people, and most service providers are helpful by nature. But when the "quick chat" and "pick your brain" sessions are taking over your schedule, it may be time to reevaluate.
