Last week I had a clarity call with a client of mine, Vince Mao.
He’s a wholesome and inspiring up-and-coming creator. Helping parents working a 9–5 to create video content that inspires others. It was a wonderful and educational call for both of us.
As the call was coming to an end I reminded him that he could always reach out to me if he had more questions. To which he seemed to reply hesitantly, explaining that he respected my time and tries not to ‘overstep his boundaries’ by asking too many questions and making it feel like he’s just using me.
And I can see the reasoning behind this. You do not want to abuse people and your relationships with them. Especially regarding the service they provide to others and make a living with.
But I still found this a bit odd.
In my mind, if you’ve got a question, you just ask. If you’d like some help, you just ask. In case you happen to “cross the boundaries” of someone else’s hospitality, they’d just tell you.
At least I would. I’d say so and we move on. No biggie.
I’d probably never need to do so, especially not if we know and respect on another. But still.
And maybe it’s a culture thing.
I’m from the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium after all. And it’s a well-known stereotype that Dutch-speaking people come across as direct, commanding, and maybe even a bit condescending at times. I’ve gotten people mentioning those things to me before, so they appear to hold some truth.
We just sound direct, that’s all. We don’t mean it; I promise.
But back to my point. Helping others, answering questions. That’s what I’m here for. That’s what most of us are here for.
To help each other. To learn, discover, and grow together. Even as I’m writing these emails. I’m doing so to help you think about things differently. I’m writing so you can learn something in a few minutes that took me months to figure out—if not years.
I’m also writing to sell some stuff and make a living, of course. But even then, I’m only selling what I believe to be valuable and what I had wished to have had when I just started. Again, with the purpose of helping others.
So it doesn’t matter if it’s a DM I get, a reply to my tweet, someone asking a question on a space, or you replying to this email with a certain question you have—a question that could have nothing to do with the contents of this email—I’ll gladly answer all of those.
If you’re on my list, and you take the time to read my emails, and then take even more time to reply to my emails, then I’m 100% convinced you respect me and my time, no matter what.
That’s enough reason for me to answer your questions.
And that answer might be a few sentences if that’s all there is to it. But at the same time, I’ve written emails longer than some of my weekly articles to people asking questions.
Because I respect you and your time. I want to help you and your business. And I will answer you and your questions no matter what.
And if your question were to be, “Hey Alex, I want to start my own journey of writing emails. I want to build a relationship with my list, sell my products, and write emails for a living just like you. Do you know some good resources to get me started?”
Well, in that case, look no further. Because yes I do know of a good resource to get you started.
In fact, it’s my very own Simple Money Emails course.
If that sounds like something you want to learn how to do, click the link here: https://alexvandromme.gumroad.com/l/SME