:) I'm working with Steli on the content. Just sent you an email - would super appreciate if you find the time to answer. It's the critical feedback like yours that helps us improve and create more valuable content.
From a customer perspective, ideally that call will help you to save time by:
a) figuring out faster if this software is right for you or not
b) helping you to learn how to use it the best way possible
c) setting this up so you make the most out of your trial.
I'd rather take objection with bad sales calls, not with the fact that they call on the same day.
If that's your favorite quote, maybe you'll like this post from Alex Turnbull https://www.groovehq.com/blog/turning-down-vc where he laid out his reasons why he said no to a $5 million funding offer.
Reminds me of Steli's story of how he followed up 48 times (!) with an VC who went dead.
Zero, zipzilch, nada.
Response to the 48th email? "Thank so much for following up, I've been crazy busy. Can you come by the office tomorrow 1pm?" (rephrased). He invested.
Of course, you have to do this the right way, he laid out a pretty good "follow up plan" in this post: http://blog.close.io/follow-up
I think you could just as well make the opposite argument: a retreat can be an easier way to get started, because it takes you away from your normal, everyday surroundings, and by really making it the main focus, and purpose of this time, it becomes easier to do, rather than to try and squeeze it into your existing schedule.
There's a beautiful meditation retreat in Northern Thailand http://www.wetours.com/meditation-retreat-in-northern-thaila... (relatively meaning: get up early, no meals after lunch, very regimented day... but nobody will give you evil eyes and the people - especially the head monk - are very relaxed, easy going and have a great sense of humor).
Not saying one way is better than the other, just that both are feasible choices :)