Page 137 - The $100 Startup_ Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love

them.) Style with substance = impact

(This is the goal.)

When you’re first getting started with a project, how do you go from martyr to
hustler? It’s simple. First things first: Take the time to make something worth
talking about—don’t be a charlatan. But then start with everyone you know and
ask for their help. Make a list of at least fifty people and divide them into
categories (colleagues from a former job, college friends, acquaintances, etc.).
As soon as the project is good to go, at least in beta form, touch base by sending
them a quick note. Here’s a sample message:

Hi [name],
I wanted to quickly let you know about a new project I’m working on.
It’s called [name of business or project], and the goal is to [main benefit].

We hope to [big goal, improvement, or idea].
Don’t worry, I haven’t added you to any lists and I won’t be spamming

you, but if you like the idea and would like to help out, here’s what you can
do:

[Action Point 1]
[Action Point 2]

Thanks again for your time.

Note that you’re not sending mass messages or sharing anyone’s private info
with the world; each message is personal, although the content is largely the
same. You’re also not “selling” anyone on the project; you’re just letting people
know what you’re up to and inviting them to participate further if they’d like to.
The action points can vary, but they should probably relate to joining a contact
list (this way you have their permission to touch base with them further) and
letting other people know about the project.

The next step is to incorporate hustling into your ongoing regular work.