Update: A neighbor's garage sale in Boise made me rethink how I give advice

I was helping my neighbor price some old tools at his sale last Saturday. A guy came up asking about a vintage drill press, and I just started listing specs and a price. My neighbor stopped me, asked the guy what he wanted to build, and ended up selling him a simpler, cheaper tool that was perfect for his small birdhouse project. I realized I was giving advice based on what I knew, not what the person actually needed. Has anyone else had a moment where they learned to ask more questions before jumping in with suggestions?

2 comments

2 Comments

nathanh754d ago

Oh come on, that's overthinking it. Sometimes people just need a straight answer, not a therapy session. If I ask a guy at the hardware store which drill bit I need, I don't want him asking about my childhood dreams, I want him to point at the right one. All that extra talking just wastes everyone's time. Most folks are smart enough to know what they want, and if they're not, they'll say so.

oliverp564d ago

Honestly, you're spot on. It's like some people just love hearing themselves talk instead of actually helping.