--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Consider consultant Clay Herbert, who is…" description: "\"“Consider consultant Clay Herbert, who is an expert in running crowd-funding campaigns for technology start-ups: a specialty that attracts a lot of cor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/cal-newport-1302_asking-for-help_consider-consultant-clay-herbert-who-is_2957095.jpg" --- # Consider consultant Clay Herbert, who is an expert in… ![“Consider consultant Clay Herbert, who is an expert in running crowd-funding campaigns for technology start-ups: a specialty that attracts a lot of correspondents hoping to glean some helpful advice. As a Forbes.com article on sender filters reports, “At some point, the number of people reaching…” quote by Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/cal-newport-1302_asking-for-help_consider-consultant-clay-herbert-who-is_2957095.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/cal-newport-1302_asking-for-help_consider-consultant-clay-herbert-who-is_2957095.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/300/cal-newport-1302_asking-for-help_consider-consultant-clay-herbert-who-is_2957095.jpg) > ““Consider consultant Clay Herbert, who is an expert in running crowd-funding campaigns for technology start-ups: a specialty that attracts a lot of correspondents hoping to glean some helpful advice. As a Forbes.com article on sender filters reports, “At some point, the number of people reaching out exceeded \[Herbert’s\] capacity, so he created filters that put the onus on the person asking for help.” Though he started from a similar motivation as me, Herbert’s filters ended up taking a different form. To contact him, you must first consult an FAQ to make sure your question has not already been answered (which was the case for a lot of the messages Herbert was processing before his filters were in place). If you make it through this FAQ sieve, he then asks you to fill out a survey that allows him to further screen for connections that seem particularly relevant to his expertise. For those who make it past this step, Herbert enforces a small fee you must pay before communicating with him. This fee is not about making extra money, but is instead about selecting for individuals who are serious about receiving and acting on advice. Herbert’s filters still enable him to help people and encounter interesting opportunities. But at the same time, they have reduced his incoming communication to a level he can easily handle.”” [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Herbert uses layered filters—FAQ, survey, fee—to ensure only serious, relevant requests reach him, balancing accessibility with manageability. **In simple terms:** Filters screen for seriousness and relevance. Key Takeaway Use filters to protect time and improve advice quality. Themes productivity expertise communication boundaries Mood pragmatic analytical reflective Type advice strategy process When to use this quote - startup founders seeking mentorship - entrepreneurs needing funding advice - consultants managing client flow - students requesting guidance - researchers looking for collaboration Key Concepts screening incentive design information overload Questions to Reflect On - Do filters improve the quality of advice received? - How can we balance openness with capacity limits? A Different Perspective Filters may deter genuine but less resourceful seekers, potentially missing diverse perspectives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice-herbert-4485748/) [Asking for help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking-for-help/) [Crowd Funding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crowd-funding-1342130/) [Help people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-people/) [Herbert Expert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/herbert-expert-4485749/) [Herbert Filters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/herbert-filters-4485750/) [Motivation Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation-herbert-4485751/) ## Related quotes > [Kickstarter is not appropriate for a blogger who writes weekly articles - he doesn't need a big chunk of money, and he has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/kickstarter-is-not-appropriate-for-a-blogger-who-writes-weekly/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [Im gonna try to pay for CLERKS III myself. As much as I love the crowd-funding model, thats an advancement in indie film that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-smith/im-gonna-try-to-pay-for-clerks-iii-myself-as-much-as-i-love-the-crowd/) [Kevin Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-smith/) > [I wonder if people really know what the definition of crowd-funding is. Or, if there's even an agreed upon definition of what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perry-chen/i-wonder-if-people-really-know-what-the-definition-of-crowd-funding/) [Perry Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perry-chen/) > [Most troublesome is the legalization of 'crowd funding,' the ability of start-up companies to raise capital from small investors on the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-rattner/most-troublesome-is-the-legalization-of-crowd-funding-the-ability-of/) [Steven Rattner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-rattner/) > [I’m very excited about all the offers and interest and support pouring in through crowd-funding, and about having a lovely gap coming up when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-m-very-excited-about-all-the-offers-and-interest-and-support/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [“by asking for help, you’re creating an opportunity for them to express their values and feel valued. 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Being prideful is a weakness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/needing-help-doesn-t-make-you-weak-in-fact-quite-the-opposite-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One of the biggest defects in life is the inability to ask for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/one-of-the-biggest-defects-in-life-is-the-inability-to-ask-for-help/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [Never hesitate to show your own staff that you need help. They need to be reminded how important they are to the process. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-mosbacher/never-hesitate-to-show-your-own-staff-that-you-need-help-they-need-to/) [Georgette Mosbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-mosbacher/) > [“By seeking out a therapist, social worker, or even just someone to talk to who isn't family or friends, will help a great deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-corter/by-seeking-out-a-therapist-social-worker-or-even-just-someone-to-talk/) [Jennifer Corter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-corter/) > [“The only mistake you can make is not asking for help.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandeep-jauhar/the-only-mistake-you-can-make-is-not-asking-for-help/) [Sandeep Jauhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandeep-jauhar/) > [I find it strange that when you call some and your asking for help in some way they will often end the call with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/i-find-it-strange-that-when-you-call-some-and-your-asking-for-help-in/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [My main goal was to not tell my mom anything or anyone anything. 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This name is a nod to the fact that journalists, like Walter Isaacson, are trained to shift into a writing mode…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-journalist-philosophy-this-name-is-a-nod-to-the-fact-that/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [“Not long into his 2010 TED talk on creativity and leadership, Derek Sivers plays a video clip of a crowd at an outdoor concert.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/not-long-into-his-2010-ted-talk-on-creativity-and-leadership-derek/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [“Kirk’s path to American Treasures was incremental. He didn’t decide out of nowhere that he wanted to host a television show and then work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/kirk-s-path-to-american-treasures-was-incremental-he-didn-t-decide/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [“If you spend too much time focusing on whether or not you’ve found your true calling, the question will be rendered moot when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/if-you-spend-too-much-time-focusing-on-whether-or-not-you-ve-found/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [“Their plans were circumspect and small-time. They weren’t dreaming of taking over the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/their-plans-were-circumspect-and-small-time-they-weren-t-dreaming-of/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [“This chain method (as some now call it) soon became a hit among writers and fitness enthusiasts—communities that thrive on the ability to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/this-chain-method-as-some-now-call-it-soon-became-a-hit-among-writers/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) [Explore all 257 Cal Newport quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) ## More Asking for help quotes > [“ Fear of Asking for Help If you have social anxiety, it is probably very difficult to ask a teacher or classmate for help.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-moehn/fear-of-asking-for-help-if-you-have-social-anxiety-it-is-probably/) [Heather Moehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-moehn/) > [My main goal was to not tell my mom anything or anyone anything. 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They need to be reminded how important they are to the process. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-mosbacher/never-hesitate-to-show-your-own-staff-that-you-need-help-they-need-to/) [Georgette Mosbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-mosbacher/) > [One of the biggest defects in life is the inability to ask for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/one-of-the-biggest-defects-in-life-is-the-inability-to-ask-for-help/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [Needing help doesn't make you weak, in fact quite the opposite. It makes you strong, smart, resourceful, and realistic. Being prideful is a weakness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/needing-help-doesn-t-make-you-weak-in-fact-quite-the-opposite-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My hope is that Unbreakable will inspire women to believe in themselves, to value themselves and to know that asking for help does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-leigh-nel-peters/my-hope-is-that-unbreakable-will-inspire-women-to-believe-in/) [Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-leigh-nel-peters/) > [“by asking for help, you’re creating an opportunity for them to express their values and feel valued. By asking for a five-minute favor, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/by-asking-for-help-you-re-creating-an-opportunity-for-them-to-express/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [“One common thing about great achievers is that, they keep asking useful questions every day. They ask questions like; “What do I want and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/one-common-thing-about-great-achievers-is-that-they-keep-asking/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“ The History of Social Anxiety The fact that some people are shyer than others has been observed since ancient times. However, the medical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-moehn/the-history-of-social-anxiety-the-fact-that-some-people-are-shyer/) [Heather Moehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-moehn/) > [“Asking for help does not mean that we are weak or incompetent. It usually indicates an advanced level of honesty and intelligence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-wilson-schaef/asking-for-help-does-not-mean-that-we-are-weak-or-incompetent-it/) [Anne Wilson Schaef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-wilson-schaef/) > [“Asking for help is an affirmation that you believe in yourself, you recognize an answer is available, and you are open to receive it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/asking-for-help-is-an-affirmation-that-you-believe-in-yourself-you/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [It's never easy asking for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-blumenthal/it-s-never-easy-asking-for-help/) [Neil Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-blumenthal/) [Browse all 107 Asking for help quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking-for-help/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Consider consultant Clay Herbert, who is an expert in running crowd-funding campaigns for technology start-ups: a specialty that attracts a lot of correspondents hoping to glean some helpful advice. As a Forbes.com article on sender filters reports, “At some point, the number of people reaching out exceeded [Herbert’s] capacity, so he created filters that put the onus on the person asking for help.” Though he started from a similar motivation as me, Herbert’s filters ended up taking a different form. To contact him, you must first consult an FAQ to make sure your question has not already been answered (which was the case for a lot of the messages Herbert was processing before his filters were in place). If you make it through this FAQ sieve, he then asks you to fill out a survey that allows him to further screen for connections that seem particularly relevant to his expertise. For those who make it past this step, Herbert enforces a small fee you must pay before communicating with him. This fee is not about making extra money, but is instead about selecting for individuals who are serious about receiving and acting on advice. 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