"Are they not ready, or did I just reach out at the wrong time?"
Here's the truth:
You'll never know for certain by analyzing from the sidelines.
But here's what I've learned—you don't diagnose readiness. You reveal it.
Ask about their timeline:
→ Vague answers? They're not ready.
→ Specific dates? You're in their cycle.
Propose next steps:
→ They commit? Timing is right.
→ They deflect? It's not about timing.
Test their problem urgency:
→ Cost of inaction clear? Ready.
→ "We'll revisit this"? Not ready.
The prospects worth your time don't need you to guess.
They respond to structure.
They engage with your process.
They treat urgency like the adult conversation it is.
The ones who aren't ready?
They'll tell you: through hesitation, vagueness, and endless "let me think about it."
Your job isn't to decode them. It's to lead and see who follows.