Yes, it’s time again for Mr. Unsolicited Advice’s Guide to Making Me Feel Bad About Turning Down That Free Trade Journal Subscription!
- Argue with me about it! Yes, if I’ve told you that I really don’t want another trade journal cluttering my desk, be sure and insist that, no, I really do, expecially yours, because it’s just so darn keen! Doubtless I’ll be swayed by your rhetoric and change my mind.
- Sulk! When I tell you I really am not interested but thank you very much, be sure and let your voice suddenly lose all the enthusiasm and bonhomie that it had mere seconds ago. I’ll either feel guilty or intimidated, but no doubt I’ll change my mind.
- Promise me it will just take 30 seconds to answer a few questions, then have it take four or five minutes, including asking for information that I really don’t have at my fingertips and thus will skew your results when I make something up. If you’re really careful you can keep me on the phone just short of the point where I’ll say, “You know, never mind, forget it, thank you very much,” especially if you realize I’m not someone to hang up on a caller, no matter how obnoxious.
This has been a Public Service Announcement from Mr. Unsolicited Advice, who’s busy right now throwing away trade journals that he hasn’t read and isn’t likely to so why lug them down to his new office, eh?
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It has taken me a year of ignoring Information Week to get them to say “This could be your LAST issue! Really! We mean it this time!” When they call, I tell them that I read their content online and would prefer not to receive the print magazine. They just sound confused when I say that.