“Can I just have 1 minute?” is almost never 1 minute.

This one is bittersweet for me.

Sweet, because I know someone is trying to grow.
Sweet, because it means I’ve built something another person values enough to want my time, thoughts, or help.

But also bitter.

Because if I say no, sometimes people make it mean I’m selfish. Or full of myself. Or “too good” to help.

And if I say yes?

I’m often saying no somewhere else.
No to my husband for a minute.
No to my kids for a minute.
No to my team, clients, work, or rest for a minute.

And here’s the thing nobody talks about…

“Can I just have 1 minute?” is almost never 1 minute.

It’s 5.
Then 15.
Then a follow up.
Then another message.
Then another “super quick question.”

And EVERY SINGLE DAY, people you admire are getting those requests.

Which, honestly, many of us would love to say yes to more often. This is not about being above anyone. It’s about stewardship.

Because once I realized that all those “tiny” moments were adding up to hours… I also realized those hours were often being taken from the people I love most.

So before you ask someone you admire for “just 1 minute,” try this first:

Listen to their podcast.
Watch their YouTube.
Read their blog.
Search their content.
Read their book.
Join their program.
Hire them if you want direct access.

Most of the questions people ask in my DMs for “1 minute” are questions I’ve already answered for free. Probably multiple times tbh.

It’s not always that someone is too busy.

Sometimes it’s that they’ve already spent 284392084 minutes trying to help in scalable ways.

And that matters too.

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