I know. A pretty scene unrelated to the topic below.
Do you have any pet peeves that you want to get off your chest before the new year—you know, wipe the slate clean (so you can start fresh on New Year’s Day)?
Because I do. And let me begin:
Dear Life Coaches:
I may be on your mailing list but chances are I am not a prospectfor what you are selling. Because I am OLDER. Older than I look, even. And have my shit together. (ok, maybe not 100%, but for the most part. And that tiny bit that isn’t together doesn’t need a life coach. )
So please do not send me your email blasts with headlines telling me how I should take your workshop or services to solve problems that do not apply to me –that I do not need. It makes me insane! Especially if the email blasts have a lot of exclamation marks!!!! and CAPITAL LETTERS!!!!!!
If you knew me, and some of us ARE acquainted, but if you even took me in, you would know that I am not a prospect. So for sure, email me personally and ask for referrals but DO NOT SEND ME STUFF THAT DOESN’T APPLY TO ME!
And then, when I don’t respond, please do not follow up with me.
Take me in. Know who I am. Because if you did, you would never approach me as a prospective client –but as a referral source. If you really took me in I wouldn’t have to tell you this because you would KNOW.
Dear Facebook Business Friends:
I love you. I do. But please do not use Messenger to send me the following:
* Marketing offers. I will see them on your business page. A Messenger message has never spurred me to buy. It just irritates me. * Something random asking me to share broadly. Especially if it’s been years since I have heard from you. I DELETE faster than it took you to hit ‘send’. Political messages. Just no. Warnings about fake people or fake offers with exhortations to share. First, you should always check stuff with Snope to make sure you aren’t spreading something fake. Second, chances are it’s fake. I never share anything like that so don’t waste the keystrokes. Oh and that applies especially if we do not really know each other.
DO use Messenger to:
* Ask me how I am * Invite me to lunch or coffee * Ask me about my products or services. Because you will never get a Messenger message from me promoting my stuff. You can see all that on my page. * Tell me personally (not in a group blast) about a product you know I am interested in because I have asked you about it or we already do business. I recently made several attempts to purchase product from someone without them getting back in touch about it. But I DID get a group blast from them about something else. Seriously? I deleted that. But I would’ve been a source of ongoing revenue had they followed up with my specific question on the three attempts I made to place an order.
Dear Grocery Stores:
When I check out, do not ask me if I want to donate to (fill in the blank) in a way designed to make me feel guilty if I say no. Why should I donate to you so that you can donate to someone, especially since we do a whole boatload of donating ourselves? I’m sure you look good to these charities. But you’re not donating YOUR funds, you are donating OURS.
Here’s a better way:
Tell me that you will MATCH any donation I make at your store. Now THAT could make me want to give you a donation. A MATCH.
Please don’t take any of this personally (unless you are a retail store, then DO take it personally). It’s mean to help business owners waste less of their and my time and effort and hone your business approach.
And now that I have that off my chest… ommmmm……..and it’s your turn! In the comments, share yours if you like!
Good ones! This time of year please do not ask me if I am ready for Christmas! Since I don’t celebrate Christmas of course I am ready. I don’t want anyone to feel less because I say I am ready and they are not.
Love your peeves. I suppose my biggest peeve is that people presume I am pagan, and by pagan I presume they mean Wiccan, because I love old, even ancient, bits of women’s wisdom hidden in sayings, belief systems, designs, and more. I also get annoyed that people presume I am Christian, Jewish, Atheist, Agnostic, or lapsed something-or-other. I am at peace with my beliefs and feel no need to announce, label, or defend them.
I so agree! I find it hilarious but also annoying that people who want me to put a link to their work that has nothing to do with mental health. Nothing… And then I don’t have guests on my podcast, but they’ll say things like, “I’ve so enjoyed listening to the guests on your show.” What? Loved reading your work again Carol. I hope you still wear wonderful hats!
I’m ready to tear my hair out over sales calls. Most of the calls we receive are robo-calls now. Hardly ever a human on the other end. I’d love to end those.
We turned our ringer off on the land line, which we keep in case of earthquake bringing cells down as they have. And I block calls as soon as they come up. But always a new fake number.
I hear you! My current pet peeve: being automatically added to local Facebook groups … you can invite me and if I’m interested then I will join; but I find myself being added to the most obscure groups and quite honestly, I’m not interested!
Arrgh…signing up for a newsletter and then being hit daily with sales emails. Going to a blog and finding a sign-up form before I’ve even read one word. Or receiving emails from people telling me they have the perfect blog post for my website and then detail a blog post that has nothing to do with anything on my blog.
Here you’ll find my blog, some of my essays, published writing, and my solo performances. There’s also a link to my Etsy shop for healing and grief tools offered through A Healing Spirit.
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Good ones! This time of year please do not ask me if I am ready for Christmas! Since I don’t celebrate Christmas of course I am ready. I don’t want anyone to feel less because I say I am ready and they are not.
Oh, girl, do I hear you or what?
Love your peeves. I suppose my biggest peeve is that people presume I am pagan, and by pagan I presume they mean Wiccan, because I love old, even ancient, bits of women’s wisdom hidden in sayings, belief systems, designs, and more. I also get annoyed that people presume I am Christian, Jewish, Atheist, Agnostic, or lapsed something-or-other. I am at peace with my beliefs and feel no need to announce, label, or defend them.
I agree with this 100%! Ask me how I am, not to buy the crap you are selling. 😉
yes for sure.
I so agree! I find it hilarious but also annoying that people who want me to put a link to their work that has nothing to do with mental health. Nothing… And then I don’t have guests on my podcast, but they’ll say things like, “I’ve so enjoyed listening to the guests on your show.” What? Loved reading your work again Carol. I hope you still wear wonderful hats!
oh yes, that is so darn true. They don’t know anything! Miss you, Dr. M!
I’m ready to tear my hair out over sales calls. Most of the calls we receive are robo-calls now. Hardly ever a human on the other end. I’d love to end those.
We turned our ringer off on the land line, which we keep in case of earthquake bringing cells down as they have. And I block calls as soon as they come up. But always a new fake number.
I hear you! My current pet peeve: being automatically added to local Facebook groups … you can invite me and if I’m interested then I will join; but I find myself being added to the most obscure groups and quite honestly, I’m not interested!
With you on that one.
Arrgh…signing up for a newsletter and then being hit daily with sales emails. Going to a blog and finding a sign-up form before I’ve even read one word. Or receiving emails from people telling me they have the perfect blog post for my website and then detail a blog post that has nothing to do with anything on my blog.
All of what you said.
I am very grateful that I am not on any life-coaches email lists!