I use this site to share thoughts, advice, tips, and tricks on doing better in business and life. And the vast majority of posts here on Your Intermittent Lex are free for everyone. But because I have paying subscribers, I do need to put some content behind the paywall. This is one of those times.

Don’t fret, though, free readers. I love you, too. And I’ll have another post as a follow-up to yesterday’s — the one on the power of saying “I don't know” — soon.

That post about “I don't know” was really focused on how it’s important to reply to people even if you don’t have the answer they want right way, because it lets them feel heard and know you care. Sometimes, though, you’re interacting with customers (or potential customers), and suddenly they go silent.

So here’s my surefire technique to get a response when suddenly a great prospect starts ghosting you.

Okay. Now we’re in the part for my paid subscribers only. Thank you, as always, for your membership.

Dear [Person],

I promise I can take a hint, but I wanted to check in one more time.

That’s it. That sentence — and in particular, that phrase “I promise I can take a hint”… I tell you, friends, I’m batting 1000 with that one. I’m not trying to be a jerk with it, and I’m obviously not trying to rub the recipient the wrong way.

Rather, I’m trying to say hey, I don’t want to keep annoying you. I’ll stop emailing you if I don’t hear back. But we had a good thing going, and I can no longer tell if you’re slow or had a change of heart.

But for whatever reason, that “I promise I can take a hint” angle has literally never steered me wrong. It doesn’t always close the deal; it doesn’t guarantee a win rate. It does — in my experience — guarantee a reply.

With great power comes great responsibility, though. So … use this wisely and sparingly. And of course, make it your own; if that phrase doesn’t sound like you, experiment until you find one that does.