How to book calls from DMs with prospects who are "too busy" to breathe
They need you most. They ghost you fastest. Here's why.
Your ideal client posted this morning: 'Another 14-hour day, but crushing it! 💪 #BusyCEO #Grindmode'
Two hours later, they left you on read.
Here's what I've learned from 20 years in sales… the people who need you most are too busy to hire you.
They're drowning in the exact problem you solve, and responding to your DM feels like adding another task to their disaster list.
They wear 'busy' like a medal… while secretly hoping someone throws them a life raft.
Your message? It felt like more work, not less.
The Busy Paradox: They desperately need help… but can't stop drowning long enough to grab it.
Today, I’m sharing the 3 shifts that turn your messages from "another task" into "thank God, relief." Namely:
→ Why "I can help" messages make busy people run away
→ The subtraction principle that gets immediate yes responses
→ How to make hiring you feel like a vacation, not a project
Let's fix your busy prospect problem...
The 3 Shifts for Messaging Overwhelmed Prospects
1️⃣ Shift #1: From Addition to Subtraction
You're offering to add value. They hear "add to my plate."
Every busy person's inbox is full of people trying to help by giving them MORE: more strategies, more tools, more meetings, more decisions.
❌ Before: "I can help you scale your business with my proven 7-step framework..."
✅ After: "I can take your entire onboarding process off your plate this week."
Stop offering to add. Start offering to subtract.
Implementation Strategy:
Lead with what you'll remove, not what you'll provide
Focus on elimination rather than addition
Position yourself as the delete key, not another download
2️⃣ Shift #2: From Decisions to Relief
You ask them to "hop on a quick call to explore options." Their brain hears "make 47 micro-decisions about another thing."
❌ Before: "Would you like to schedule a strategy session to discuss your options?"
✅ After: "I'll send you a 2-minute loom with exactly how I'd fix this. Listen when you have a second. No response needed." (bonus… just send it with a personalized note on exactly how it fixes their problem)
Remove the decision fatigue. Give them something that requires zero effort to consume.
Implementation Strategy:
Eliminate choice paralysis with single options
Provide value that requires no response
Make consumption passive, not active
3️⃣ Shift #3: From Professional to Personal
You're being professional and respectful. They need someone who gets that they haven't eaten lunch in three days.
❌ Before: "I understand you have competing priorities and respect your time..."
✅ After: "I know you're probably reading this at 11 PM between emails. Here's the 30-second version:"
Acknowledge their chaos. Don't pretend it's normal.
Implementation Strategy:
Reference specific overwhelm moments (11 PM emails, weekend work)
Use exhaustion language they relate to
Show you understand their actual day, not their LinkedIn image
That's it.
Here's what you learned today:
→ Busy people need subtraction, not addition
→ Relief beats value every time for overwhelmed prospects
→ Acknowledging chaos creates more connection than professionalism
Your overwhelmed prospects aren't looking for another expert with solutions. They're looking for someone who can make one thing disappear from their disaster list.
Start with just one: Rewrite your next message to remove something from their plate instead of adding to it.
You're not pushy - but busy people perceive you that way.
When every message feels like homework, they protect themselves by ghosting.
Today's paid member mega-prompt helps you craft messages that feel like relief, not requests.
Paid members get:
✔ Custom busy-person message flows for your niche
→ Opening that acknowledges overwhelm
→ Bridge that promises less, not more
→ CTA that feels like rest, not action
✔ Platform-specific timing strategies
✔ The "Relief Test" checklist for all messages
P.S. If you're enjoying 8am in Atlanta, consider sharing it with a coach friend. They'll get the same messaging strategies I've used to generate $3M+ in cash collected in <24 months for high-ticket programs… without sounding desperate.