I was just listening to a podcast and it reminded me of an Internet marketer who contacted me awhile back.

She sent me a message on Twitter asking to talk with me. She didn’t say what it was, and I’m not interested in spending my time talking to just anyone unless I know what it’s about and I’m interested in it.

Duh.

So I replied with something to the effect of “Possibly. What is it you want to talk about?”

Never got a response.

Lord, I hate it when people do that. Don’t waste my time asking me a question if you’re going to ignore me when I reply.

So whatever. Didn’t give it another thought until my phone started ringing off the hook a few weeks later. And I’m talking literally every single day, at least two calls or more from the same phone number, never once leaving a message.

Can we say I-R-R-I-T-A-T-I-N-G?!

Well, I don’t ever answer the phone.

I just don’t. I’m not looking for more clients at the moment and if I were, I only talk to the ones who come through my website and go through my consultation form.

And I’m sure as heck not answering anyone who refuses to leave a message. If you don’t want to leave a message clearly stating your intentions–who you are and what you want–then I’m not interested. Simple as that.

I might be running a business, but I’m a human being first. Have more respect for those you are calling and <gasp> and you might get some back.

After (and I’m not even exaggerating) over a MONTH of this, whoever is calling from this number FINALLY leaves a message. I also get an email from this person at the same time.

She states she is the virtual assistant to So-and-So Internet Marketer (who cares) and launches into a spiel about some program this Internet marketer is gearing toward VAs, yada yada.

Blech.

I HATE those things because they are just exploiting virtual assistants. I absolutely detest those people.

NO ONE has any business teaching VAs anything about virtual assistance except other VAs (and then, only the successful ones who have actual experience and substance to offer).

At this point, I’m thinking, how many hundreds of unanswered calls does this person need to get the message.

And this is besides the fact that I’m really annoyed at this point and definitely not interested in speaking with anyone who engages in phone tactics like this.

So I reply to the email in the most direct way I can: “Not interested.”

And do you know they still continued to call me several times after that?!