I placed an ad to sell a truck on Facebook Marketplace. After wading through the bots and scammers, I engaged with a real human. Then this:
Me: When would you like to see it?
Them: How long will it take me to get there?
Me: That depends on where you are [eyebrow raised].
Them: I’m in Trenton, New Jersey.
Me: I’m in Oley, PA [as is clearly marked on the ad — now its a flag]
Them: How long will it take me to go from Trenton to Oley?
I ghosted them.
Maybe you’re thinking, “What? Why?” Or maybe you’re thinking that’s harsh.
I don’t purposely let people waste my time (if I can help it), and I put respect for others’ time at the top of my list.
From Seth:
- When you get stuck, first ask Claude, then ask a human.
I had no interest in being Google, Maps, or Claude for this person. They’re talking to me on their device. They have any or all of those. They could have literally typed those same 13 words into any browser, map, or AI app and gotten the answer.
Instead, they’re asking me to do it for them.
There are a million good reasons to ask another person instead of asking a device (for example), but productivity starts with respecting your and others’ time and continues with knowing how to use your tools.
Asking the right questions to the right source makes you exponentially more productive, knowledgeable, and valuable.
