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Another thing that works great: Just email one specific question. Then a week or so later, email another specific question. Repeat. I've been saying no to a

by sivers 13y ago

Another thing that works great: Just email one specific question. Then a week or so later, email another specific question. Repeat. I've been saying no to all "pick your brain" requests, and even interview requests, but if someone emails a specific question, I answer it. (I'm at derek@sivers.org if you want to test this.) One guy wanted an interview, I said no (just too busy), so he emailed just one question, then did it again, and a month or so later he posted our interview: http://onepercentcollective.org/derek-sivers-generosity-talks http://onepercentcollective.org/derek-sivers-generosity-talk... I thought that was a pretty clever hack. Clever enough that I then met with him later, and he's an impressive dude.

krmmalik 13y ago
Can confirm and second this. I've emailed Mr.Sivers and lots of other awesome people with one simple question loads of times. I ask the question in one line and ask for a one line response. its upto then if they want to provide more information.
- NhanH 13y ago
  As a non-native English speaker, I have quite some trouble writing an email with proper etiquette. I'm not quite sure HOW to write a one-liner email question (shouldn't I introduce myself, provide context, isn't it rude to ask in a one-liner etc). Do you mind giving a specific example on how such an email should be?
  - WadeF 13y ago
    This comment is actually a great example of a one-line email question. Just do this and you'll likely get good response.
  - saraid216 13y ago
    State your name, disclose any relevant bits (I am a journalist; I am a government official; I may publish your response; etc.), and ask your question. You might have a signature that gives more disclosure, like a phone number. Providing context is, as a rule of thumb, a bad idea. It takes time to read it, and that's the exact opposite of the point of a one-liner. If it's necessary for answering the question, then chances are the question is too broad or poorly targeted: your recipient ought to already have the necessary context. That's what makes them useful for asking your question. That said, it's just a guideline, which means break it when you feel like breaking it. Everyone is going to have a different threshold for what seems rude, what seems worth answering, and so on; you kinda have to go with hit or miss. Only this past week, I actually got a response back from an author I emailed over a month ago. I had stopped expecting a response two days after I sent it off and moved on, so it was a very pleasant surprise.
  - krmmalik 13y ago
    Commenter above has very valid points. I think that with busy people, they're happy to forego etiquette somewhat. My last email went something like this Subject: One line response needed only Body: Hi X, Could you please tell me what you consider a healthy user activation rate? Thank you Regards --- That's it. Of course, that's not how I would email everyone.

by sivers 13y ago

krmmalik 13y ago

Can confirm and second this. I've emailed Mr.Sivers and lots of other awesome people with one simple question loads of times. I ask the question in one line and ask for a one line response. its upto then if they want to provide more information.

NhanH 13y ago
As a non-native English speaker, I have quite some trouble writing an email with proper etiquette. I'm not quite sure HOW to write a one-liner email question (shouldn't I introduce myself, provide context, isn't it rude to ask in a one-liner etc). Do you mind giving a specific example on how such an email should be?
- WadeF 13y ago
  This comment is actually a great example of a one-line email question. Just do this and you'll likely get good response.
- saraid216 13y ago
  State your name, disclose any relevant bits (I am a journalist; I am a government official; I may publish your response; etc.), and ask your question. You might have a signature that gives more disclosure, like a phone number. Providing context is, as a rule of thumb, a bad idea. It takes time to read it, and that's the exact opposite of the point of a one-liner. If it's necessary for answering the question, then chances are the question is too broad or poorly targeted: your recipient ought to already have the necessary context. That's what makes them useful for asking your question. That said, it's just a guideline, which means break it when you feel like breaking it. Everyone is going to have a different threshold for what seems rude, what seems worth answering, and so on; you kinda have to go with hit or miss. Only this past week, I actually got a response back from an author I emailed over a month ago. I had stopped expecting a response two days after I sent it off and moved on, so it was a very pleasant surprise.
- krmmalik 13y ago
  Commenter above has very valid points. I think that with busy people, they're happy to forego etiquette somewhat. My last email went something like this Subject: One line response needed only Body: Hi X, Could you please tell me what you consider a healthy user activation rate? Thank you Regards --- That's it. Of course, that's not how I would email everyone.