Ok, the title is a bit misleading, but the point does relate to it.
I have a great friend that sends some emails that are a bit large and sprinkled with questions or points for you to give input. Do you think people answer his email? Yes, they do, but they answer only half the questions or just 1 question (usually, the last one).
The problem when you ask someone too many questions, or ask them to do too much for you (send me this, then that, then go there, bring this) it's very hard for them to know what they should get done first. Or, which thing is "the" thing that must be really accomplished.
The other day I need two things from a person. I need an urgent headshot and I need a short bio. I sent the email to this person, and being direct I asked "Can you send me a picture of you and a short bio?". That was it.
Immediately I realized my mistake. He's a very busy entrepreneur. He would read that email and just file it under the pile of "must do". If I had been smarter I'd have asked him for a picture and he certainly would have one at hand (everyone has a headshot ready this days to quickly upload to the next social network you join). After I've got that, which was the most important piece I needed, I would have asked him for a short bio.
I'm getting a lot of people to agree to a lot of things lately and I think I'm getting that by slowly bringing them into the "full ask" without scaring them away with the "time hog" thinking.
So, the next time you send an email to someone to ask for something, start by asking just 1 thing that can be easily accomplished and reel them in.
I'm the Co-founder & CTO of 
