<b>Compliments cost you credibility</b>

<b>Compliments cost you credibility</b>

Everyone says: "Open warm — flatter them so they feel good before you pitch."

Myth. Praise from a stranger who's about to ask for something reads as currency, not kindness, and savvy creators discount it on sight. Every "you're crushing it" makes the eventual ask louder, because they're now waiting for the catch. Respect outperforms flattery: get to the point fast and treat their time as valuable. The warmest thing you can do for a busy person is not make them wade through admiration to find out what you want.