If someone offers to help you, you have two choices:
- Take the help now
- Decline, defer, or do nothing
This is obvious during interactions with strangers. A stranger might offer to hold the elevator for you now. That doesn’t mean you can expect them hold the elevator when you really need it.
It’s less obvious with acquaintances. An acquaintance might want to do lunch to talk about ideas that could help you and your new business. That doesn’t mean you can wait a few months to take her up on the offer. By then, she’s not excited to help you anymore.
It’s even less obvious with close friends. A close friend might offer to help. Declining their offer might be insulting to them. They’re just being a good friend.
So choice two seems pretty crappy, huh?
Take the time to accept offers for help. Even if it’s not a good time for you, there’s more to lose when you say, “Can we reschedule?”