How *not* to get an appointment

To start off my Monday I had an interesting conversation with my executive assistant:

She was contacted last week by another sales author (name withheld here for obvious reasons.) This author contacted her to request a meeting with me. When my assistant naturally asked, "What is this regarding," the author stated that he/she would prefer not to say and to speak with me privately, "as one professional to another" as he/she put it.

When my assistant, a.k.a. my gatekeeper, replied that she needs to know what the meeting is about and that she may be able to help her instead, the author insulted my gatekeeper (you NEVER insult gatekeepers!) and demanded to speak with me and only me.

When my assistant again denied the request, he/she then emailed with two dates and times that he/she'd be available to meet me, again with no information as to why he/she would like to meet with me. My assistant again replied that I do not accept appointments when I have no idea what they're about. She also explained that ever since I've become a NY Times bestseller, I've been inundated with dozens and sometimes over a hundred requests from authors each month for endorsements, assistance with book promotions, and so on.

(Over 3,000 new books are released every day - EVERY DAY - so you can imagine how many requests for help and endorsements bestselling authors get.)

In any case, this person should not be an author in the sales world, as he/she has no idea to even get an appointment, and has now insulted and infuriated my assistant who will make sure he/she never gets to meet with me, ever.

I just thought I'd share this with the world, because what happened here is a sure way to NOT get an appointment with a decision maker!!