this is EXACTLY what I need
(run)
The whistle hung around your neck for six weeks before you understood what drowning actually looks like.
You’d been trained to spot the splashing. The waving arms. The screaming for help.
So you scanned the pool looking for drama.
Meanwhile, a 12 yo old boy slipped underwater 15 feet from your chair.
No splash. No screaming. No thrashing arms breaking the surface.
Just silence.
Another lifeguard dove in and pulled him out.
You stood there, whistle in hand, realizing the thing you’d been looking for was the exact opposite of what you should have been looking for.
Drowning doesn’t announce itself. It hides inside silence.
Your DM conversations work the same way.
You’ve been trained to look for INTEREST.
Enthusiasm. Engagement. Questions.
So you invest 45 minutes in DMs with someone who’s saying all the right things.
Interested. Engaged. Asking questions.
You send the proposal. Offer the call.
They vanish.
Or worse. They book the call. No-show. Waste another hour of your week.
Looking back at the conversation, the red flags were THERE.
You just didn’t recognize them because red flags don’t announce themselves.
They hide inside polite, engaged-sounding responses.
Today, I’m sharing the 4 red flag categories that transform how you read DM conversations, so you stop investing time in people who were never going to buy.
① How to spot the “fit flags” that reveal problem-solution mismatch before you waste time explaining your offer
② Why “I’ve been thinking about this for a while” is actually a DISQUALIFIER, not a buying signal
③ The hidden red flags that look like enthusiasm but signal you’re about to get ghosted
④ The exact follow-up questions that test each red flag before you decide to exit
Let’s fix your broken prospect filter...
THE RED FLAG RECOGNITION SYSTEM
Most coaches run a 70/30 split. 70% of their DM time goes to people who were never going to buy.
The Red Flag Recognition System flips that ratio by teaching you to spot disqualification signals EARLY, so you can redirect gracefully instead of chasing dead ends.
Here’s what actually separates qualified prospects from time-wasters:
① FIT RED FLAGS (Problem-Solution Mismatch)
You’re mid-conversation with a prospect who seems interested. They’re asking questions. Responding quickly. Then they drop this line:
“I’m looking for something a little different than what you described.”
That’s a fit flag. And most coaches miss it because it sounds like engagement.
The Patterns:
“I’ve tried something like this before and it didn’t work”
“I’m not sure this applies to my situation”
“That sounds great for [other type of person], but I’m more of a...”
Any sentence with “but” after apparent agreement
What you’re hearing: Distancing language. Exceptions. They’re telling you the puzzle pieces don’t fit… you’re just not listening.
Your test question: “Can you tell me more about what you’re specifically looking for?”
If their answer reveals they want something fundamentally different from what you offer, you’ve just saved yourself an hour.
② READINESS RED FLAGS (Not Ready to Act)
“I’ve been thinking about this for a while.”
Most coaches hear this and think: Great! They’re warmed up! They’ve been considering this!
What it actually means: They’ve been THINKING and NOT ACTING for months. You’re talking to a researcher, not a buyer.
The Patterns:
“I’m just exploring my options right now”
“I want to get everything else in order first”
“Maybe after [future event]”
“I need to do more research”
Any future-tense language or conditions
What you’re hearing: Information-gathering mode. They’re collecting data, not making decisions.
Your test question: “What would need to happen for you to feel ready to move forward?”
Their answer tells you whether this is genuine preparation or permanent delay.
③ INVESTMENT RED FLAGS (Can’t or Won’t Pay)
“What’s the cheapest option?”
Asked before they know anything about what you offer. Before they understand the value. Before they’ve shared their problem in detail.
That’s not a buying signal. That’s price anchoring downward.
The Patterns:
“Do you have a payment plan?” (asked before knowing price)
“I’d need to talk to my [spouse/business partner/accountant]”
“I’m not in a position to invest right now”
“Is there a free version?”
Any resource constraint mentioned early
What you’re hearing: External decision-makers. Budget limitations. They’re already planning their exit.
Your test question: “What range of investment are you comfortable with for solving this?”
If their answer is significantly below your price point, you’ve just saved yourself a proposal that was never getting signed.
④ HIDDEN RED FLAGS (The Dangerous Ones)
“This is EXACTLY what I need!”
Message two. You’ve barely explained anything. They’re already declaring it’s perfect.
Run.
The Patterns:
TOO enthusiastic, TOO fast (doesn’t match conversation depth)
Asking about results without asking about process
Comparing you to competitors mid-conversation
Vague responses to specific questions
Long delays between responses after investment is mentioned
What you’re hearing: Mismatch between words and behavior. Their enthusiasm doesn’t match their actions. Their interest doesn’t match their engagement.
Your test question: “What specifically about this resonates with what you’re dealing with right now?”
If they can’t answer with specifics, their enthusiasm is surface-level.
THE INTERPRETATION LAYER
Red flags aren’t automatic disqualifications. They’re investigation triggers.
Single red flag = ask a clarifying question
Multiple red flags in same category = likely disqualified
Red flags across ALL categories = exit gracefully
The goal isn’t to reject everyone who says something concerning.
The goal is to RECOGNIZE the flag, then TEST it before deciding.
YOUR ACTION STEP
After your next 5 DM conversations, run this debrief:
Review the conversation for flags you might have missed
Categorize each flag (Fit, Readiness, Investment, Hidden)
Note YOUR emotional response… did you ignore a flag because you wanted the sale?
Screenshot conversations with red flags. Build your reference library. Notice patterns.
The coach who recognizes flags early can redirect gracefully instead of chasing dead ends.
That’s it.
Here’s what you learned today:
→ Fit flags reveal problem-solution mismatch before you waste time explaining
→ Readiness flags expose researchers vs. buyers through future-tense language
→ Investment flags show up EARLY when someone’s already planning their exit
→ Hidden flags look like enthusiasm but signal you’re about to get ghosted
Review your last conversation that ended in no-sale. Find the flag you missed.
Ready to systematize your red flag recognition?
You’re not bad at sales… but your prospect filter is broken.
When every conversation feels promising (until it isn’t), you’re bleeding hours you’ll never get back.
Today’s paid member mega-prompt builds your personalized Red Flag Library AND analyzes your actual conversations to show you exactly what you’re missing.
Paid members get:
✔ Personalized Red Flag Library based on YOUR offer, price point, and audience
→ The specific phrases most likely to indicate disqualification in YOUR niche
→ Category-by-category breakdown with your custom examples
✔ Conversation Analysis Tool that identifies red flags by category with explanations
→ Paste any DM exchange, get instant signal analysis
→ “What I Missed” retrospective for conversations that went cold
✔ Red Flag Severity Scorer that rates overall qualification status
→ 🔴 Exit, 🟡 Investigate, 🟢 Proceed… with reasoning
→ Clarifying questions generated for each flagged signal
