[jseliger]

* In other words, when you asks for a busy person's time for "mentorship" or "advice" or whatever, show (a) you are serious and have gone as far as you can by yourself (b) have taken concrete steps to address whatever your needs are and (optionally. but especially with code related efforts)(c) how helping you could benefit them/their project.*

Funny -- this is almost exactly the advice I wrote in "How to get your professors' attention -- and coaching and mentoring": http://jseliger.com/2010/10/02/how-to-get-your-professors%E2... . The big thing you need to do if you're trying to get someone's attention is show that you're worth the investment.

Most people either don't do this or don't know how to.