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I find calling disrespectful because it interrupts my flow. But as far as I understand, this is a developer (or engineer) only problem and people in other busi

I find calling disrespectful because it interrupts my flow. But as far as I understand, this is a developer (or engineer) only problem and people in other businesses rarely have that and actually favor the phone over email.

maxxxxx 9y ago
That's exactly my experience. A lot of small business people are on the phone all the time.
- startupdiscuss 9y ago
  The most successful people I know are on the phone all the time. However, I don't know if they would want to talk to strangers about something unrelated to their business.
  - maxxxxx 9y ago
    Obviously you have to make sure that what you are talking about is relevant to their business.
    - startupdiscuss 9y ago
      I'll give an example. I know someone who really wants to make products abroad cheaply and sell them in the united states. I think -- I haven't talked to him in years -- that he would love to receive a call that says "Can you supply me with [insert product]? Can you get it delivered at X for $Y?" I doubt -- although I don't know -- that he would listen to "What are your biggest problems? Do you have a tough time with finances or sales?"
      - maxxxxx 9y ago
        " doubt -- although I don't know -- that he would listen to "What are your biggest problems? Do you have a tough time with finances or sales?" That's a self serving way to open that offers no value to the person you are calling. You may ask "how about procedure xxx? How is that going?" and then expand from there. It's a skill most programmers don't have. I know a guy who can chat up pretty much anybody and get a deep conversation with them and what's going on in their business. I don't have that skill but I know it's incredibly valuable.
        ams6110 9y ago
        I'm not particularly good at it, but it seems that the trick is to be attuned to what the other person starts talking about, and pursue that, possibly feigning deep interest until you uncover something that might be actionable. Edit: of course it helps to be at least passably familiar with the person's business so that you don't have to use a totally generic opening.
        maxxxxx 9y ago
        I guess in the end you need to enjoy talking (like most people seem to do). I personally hate it :-(
ghaff 9y ago
It's one thing to talk through something or just catch up with a coworker. (I work mostly remotely.) It's another thing to be interrupted by a call from a telemarketer looking to sell me a product/service that almost certainly has nothing to do with my job and then have to hang up on them when they start pestering me for other names to call.

maxxxxx 9y ago

That's exactly my experience. A lot of small business people are on the phone all the time.

startupdiscuss 9y ago
The most successful people I know are on the phone all the time. However, I don't know if they would want to talk to strangers about something unrelated to their business.
- maxxxxx 9y ago
  Obviously you have to make sure that what you are talking about is relevant to their business.
  - startupdiscuss 9y ago
    I'll give an example. I know someone who really wants to make products abroad cheaply and sell them in the united states. I think -- I haven't talked to him in years -- that he would love to receive a call that says "Can you supply me with [insert product]? Can you get it delivered at X for $Y?" I doubt -- although I don't know -- that he would listen to "What are your biggest problems? Do you have a tough time with finances or sales?"
    - maxxxxx 9y ago
      " doubt -- although I don't know -- that he would listen to "What are your biggest problems? Do you have a tough time with finances or sales?" That's a self serving way to open that offers no value to the person you are calling. You may ask "how about procedure xxx? How is that going?" and then expand from there. It's a skill most programmers don't have. I know a guy who can chat up pretty much anybody and get a deep conversation with them and what's going on in their business. I don't have that skill but I know it's incredibly valuable.
      - ams6110 9y ago
        I'm not particularly good at it, but it seems that the trick is to be attuned to what the other person starts talking about, and pursue that, possibly feigning deep interest until you uncover something that might be actionable. Edit: of course it helps to be at least passably familiar with the person's business so that you don't have to use a totally generic opening.
        maxxxxx 9y ago
        I guess in the end you need to enjoy talking (like most people seem to do). I personally hate it :-(

ghaff 9y ago

It's one thing to talk through something or just catch up with a coworker. (I work mostly remotely.) It's another thing to be interrupted by a call from a telemarketer looking to sell me a product/service that almost certainly has nothing to do with my job and then have to hang up on them when they start pestering me for other names to call.