How Entrepreneurs Decide Which Meetings to Take and Which to Refuse | Hacker News Reader

How Entrepreneurs Decide Which Meetings to Take and Which to Refuse

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13 pointsjprocopio5 comments

Pretty good advice. I work a full-time job in IT security and own a low seven figure lifestyle business on the side. Here’s what I do:

1. I always email screen and ask for more information specifically questions.

2. Always have them meet you where you’re already going to be (ie, coffee next to where you live or work, community event) That way if you end up with a no-show it doesn’t impact you as much.

3. I give out my number and email often. Nowadays people don’t like to call which means they don’t but I get brownie points for offering my number up. I screen both calls and email so it’s still a win-win.

4. I gave regularly calling recruiters my big number which includes my business income. This has reduced their calls to 0 but they do email me at times.

5. I often take meetings where I get an opportunity to learn from others or give back. Without disruption, life becomes routine.

Thanks for the feedback and the extra points you listed.

#2 is intriguing. I started a "rant" on this but it made the post too long so I cut it. What do you do with no-shows? I mean, it's on me for not seeing it coming in the first place, but I've never figured out good etiquette for dealing with them.

No-shows usually go to the bottom of my list and I’ll only engage with them via email after they’ve burned me once. I don’t lecture them because I understand life happens but further engagements are on my terms.

No-shows don’t affect me now because I have all meetings come to my workplace or to my small business office if I’m working from there. Once they’ve arrived if necessary we’ll then go to our intended location TOGETHER (ie. lunch, coffee).

When I’m traveling I rarely have meetings outside of the hotel I’m staying in.

I got burnt twice by a founder of a local hot startup a few years ago and made this change after dealing with him. It’s made things much easier.

As hard as I try to say no to meetings, a lot more than one per month gets through. The toughest ones are from people who may have helped you/supported you in the past or when you are trying to build a relationship with someone and they introduce your to someone. These are meetings where there is some kind of social obligation. Very hard.

Totally get this. This is where the email screen can be a lifesaver. You fill the social obligation, maybe even lend a hand or get done what you need to get done, and you can prioritize it -- meet now, meet later, meet never.

When you're an entrepreneur, you can easily get up to 50% of your time meeting people outside of your company -- sales, hires, partners, help, funding. It can get tricky real quick. My basic guideline has always been no more than 1 a week unless I'm doing something that specifically requires me to meet external people.

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