I was e-introduced by a friend to another coach. A business coach–you know, someone who listens and helps others improve their business through communication and the benefit of their experience.

We had a zoom discussion of what he was looking for in my LinkedIn coaching and I explained how I could help him achieve that goal.

It was, admittedly, a conversation out of the ordinary, in that he was rushed and inattentive to my cues, which should have been my first glimpse of the future.

And you probably have an inkling where this is going…

So I dutifully sent him a proposal. The time-tested proposal of four 90-minute sessions over 5 weeks’ time, the one that has served me very well, comprehensive, and clear (after experiential edits, over the years). One needed for everything that I promised to help him with in that proposal.

No reply, which is not unusual, with all we are busy with.

So I inquired.

I wish I hadn’t.

“No,” “not interested in this section,” “not doing that,” “what does that section do for me,” “I don’t need this,” and so it went. (“Oh, but you do need each thing you lambasted, to exponential powers!” I thought.)

OK, I was ready to hang up and I decided, wait, here’s one I can win over as a challenge to myself and to provide support for his overwhelming negativity. After all these years, I’ve started with more challenging clients and overcame their resistance, I reminded myself.

So I recast the proposal to partially meet his needs and to still provide my great service, nonetheless. I added notes about why these sections were needed from our dialog. Clear and comprehensive.

The “no way”s were re-repeated when he called back. More intensively.

OK, I decided, it’s gonna be one of these, so I said nicely, I may add, in effect: take it or not. Less than this revision would not give him what he needs in my professional opinion. He replied he would think again and get back to me.

And not surprisingly, he never replied. And I did not pursue.

The ball was in his court. I am glad that’s how it ended.

I am immensely proud of my work and he is obviously not into helping himself, which he sorely needs; rather, he just wanted to spout out his displeasure with me, with LinkedIn, with {fill in the blank}.

Fear of self-expression to make his brand more attractive?

Nothing constructive to offer beyond the resume-y factoids?

Certain he did not lack self-impression.

But not the self-confidence to realize he is not always right. And coaches need coaches, right?

Yes, I can spend my time better. And I did. He can spend his own time however he wants, but not with me.

It takes me time to reflect back a few weeks on this incident and evaluate my miscalculation. I am still learning.

Will he? Not with me though.