Some people insulate and isolate themselves - on purpose - to make themselves all but impossible to contact. The whys don't matter. They just do it, and that can make your life hard if you really need to speak with that elusive person. If you want to contact them despite their protective walls, that means you have to get a little creative. Here are some ways to cut through the maze of misdirection and talk to those elusive, hard to reach people, whomever they might be:
The Golf Course
Of course, this method only works if said hard to reach person actually plays golf, but many people who are notoriously hard to reach seem to enjoy the game, and if your target is one of these then you're in luck. If you can find out when and where he'll be playing, you can arrange to be in the vicinity, and all you need is one opening.
Friend of a Friend of a Friend
Hard to reach people invariably make use of a network of hired guns and assistants to keep you at arm's length, and they tend to pay very well for that service. Even so, these human components represent a weak link in the chain, and any one of them could be your ticket in. Try them all. You just need the one success.
Common Causes
Find out what causes your hard to reach contact supports and begin supporting them also. What you cannot accomplish via the appointment calendar, you can possibly accomplish at the fund raising dinner, over drinks, in conversation about the thing you two have in common.
The White Knight
Find out what problem or problems the difficult to reach person is having, and present yourself as the solution to one or more of those problems. If you can demonstrate value by solving for a pressing issue that the difficult to reach person is having, you're almost certain to get a hearing on whatever topic you're interested in discussing.
And, as a general rule, always be polite, always figure our a good, quick opening line, and don;t give up - persistance may well be noticed and rewarded.
