What you teach them about your availability
The people who love you believe what you show them. What have you been showing?
The Simplicity Protocol August 4
0:00
/213.007007
In 2011, my dad filled out the contact form on my business website.
The message said: "Nice site!!! Love Dad."
He sent a follow-up the next day: "Did it send this time? Love Dad."
My own father was using the Ridiculously Efficient contact form to reach me. I was building a reputation for being unreachable by the people closest to me, and I didn't see it yet.
For most of my career, "I'm so busy" was my default response to anyone who asked how I was doing. I said it to my parents, my sister-in-law, my extended family. I said it so consistently that people reorganized their expectations around my unavailability. They stopped calling during the day. Then stopped reaching out unless something was urgent.
The people who love you believe what you teach them about your availability. The lesson keeps teaching even after you stop meaning it.
This post is for subscribers only
Subscribe to continue reading