The biggest work life lie ever:
“There is no bandwidth.”
There is always a bandwidth.
Bandwidth to take up a new project.
Bandwidth to hire someone.
Bandwidth to deliver on something that must be done.
Of course it need not be the norm, but there is always a bandwidth for an anolmaly.
The question to ask is, “Is my case so compelling that they are ready to frizzle out their bandwidth to work with me?”
If not, no hard feelings. Go find your people. It is much easier than begging those to stay who never wanted to come in, in the first place.