Podcast · 50 min audio

Ramit Sethi and Patrick McKenzie on Getting Your First Consulting Client

Patrick McKenzie, Ramit Sethi · Kalzumeus Software Free Intermediate

McKenzie went from zero consulting clients to a full pipeline using direct, honest outreach with no case studies to point to, and this conversation with Ramit Sethi is the clearest breakdown of how he actually did it. It applies just as well to a product founder emailing prospective customers as it does to a consultant emailing prospective clients: the mechanics of a credible cold ask are the same.

  • Naming the specific problem you solve for a specific type of person beats a general pitch
  • Early outreach should ask for a conversation, with the sale coming later once trust exists
  • Volume matters less than sending to people who plausibly already feel the pain you fix
Open on kalzumeus.com ↗

It answers 2 questions

  1. Is cold outreach even worth it, or is it just spam that hurts my brand?
  2. How do I cold email my first ten customers when I have no logos, no traction, and no case studies?

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