The Borrow Wisdom call guide
How to book an expert for a 30-minute call
Decide the one question you need help with. Find someone who has done it, then send a short brief with your context and constraints. Agree on the time, length and price up front. Prepare three questions, take notes during the call, and follow up with what you learned.
Expert call: a short, scheduled, one-to-one conversation with someone who has direct experience of the decision or problem you face.
Write the one-sentence question
Start with the decision you want to make after the call. “How do I start a business?” is too broad. “What should I check before taking a lease on my first café?” gives the conversation a useful boundary.
Write down what a useful answer would let you do next. That helps you choose a person and keeps the call focused.
Who counts as the right expert?
Look for direct experience, not just a title. Someone who has opened and operated a café may be more helpful on a first lease than someone who writes about entrepreneurship.
Ask what they did themselves, how recently they did it, and whether their situation resembles yours. Location, scale, budget and rules can change the answer. A good expert can explain where their experience stops.
Where to find them
- Your network: ask a colleague or friend for an introduction to someone who has handled the same decision.
- Professional communities: look for people sharing specific lessons in relevant trade groups, local associations or technical communities. Respect their rules about requests.
- Paid expert-call services: compare the person’s relevant experience, the scope of the call, the total quote and cancellation terms.
- Borrow Wisdom’s concierge brief: describe the call you need. Our team looks for a suitable person and checks availability. You receive a name, a time and a quote by email, then decide.
What to send in the request
Make it easy for the person to decide whether they can help. Use this short template:
- My question: the one decision I want to talk through.
- My context: where I am now and what I have tried.
- My constraints: budget, location, deadline or technical limits that matter.
- The experience I need: what I hope you have done yourself.
- The call: preferred length, video or phone, time zone, and a few possible times.
- Before we confirm: please share the total price and any cancellation terms.
Keep confidential material out of the first message. Ask what information they need before sending documents.
How to prepare
Agree on the time, time zone, length, format and price in writing before booking. Confirm who will send the call link or phone details and what happens if either person needs to cancel.
Prepare three questions in order of importance. Send a short, relevant document ahead of time only if the person agrees to read it. Leave enough room to discuss the answers.
During the call
Open with your one-sentence question and a brief explanation of the situation. Ask for examples of what the person actually did, what failed and what they would check first in your position.
Take notes. Ask permission before recording. If advice sounds broad, ask which assumptions it depends on. Use the last few minutes to repeat your next steps and check that you understood.
After the call
Write down what changed in your thinking, what is still uncertain and the next action you will take. Send a short thank-you and any follow-up you agreed on.
A useful call gives you perspective, not certainty. Check critical claims independently. For legal, medical or financial decisions, use an appropriately qualified professional for the advice you need.
Red flags
- Guaranteed outcomes before they understand your situation.
- Vague claims of experience with no concrete explanation of what they did.
- Pressure to pay before the scope, price and cancellation terms are clear.
- Requests for passwords, account access or unnecessary sensitive information.
- An undisclosed sales interest in the recommendation they make.
If something feels unclear, pause and ask. You can decline a call that does not fit.
Common questions about expert calls
What is an expert call?
An expert call is a short, scheduled, one-to-one conversation with someone who has direct experience of the decision or problem you face.
How do I choose the right expert?
Look for someone who has handled a similar decision under similar constraints. Ask what they did themselves, how recently, and what context might differ from yours.
What should I send before the call?
Send your one-sentence question, a short description of your situation, what you have tried, your constraints, and your preferred time and call length. Agree on the price before booking.
Is 30 minutes enough?
It can be enough for one focused question. For several decisions or a detailed review, narrow the scope or agree on a longer call.
Can Borrow Wisdom find someone for me?
Send a call brief and a person on Lucky Ranasinghe’s team at MADITECH will look for a suitable match. We reply by email with a name, a proposed time and a quote. You decide whether to accept; a match is not guaranteed.
Start with your question
Who would help you see the next step?
Send a brief. We look for a suitable match and reply by email with a quote. Sending a request commits you to nothing, and nothing is charged by this site.
Describe the call you need