My First Cold Email Was Far From Perfect, But It Led To Something Great

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Welcome back to another edition of "Kabir Cold Emails Millionaires," where I dissect the emails I dare to send to some of the most influential and successful individuals in the world. Today, we're going to delve deep into an email I had the courage to send to Kendall, a silent but potent force in the realm of tech and investment.

This email wasn't merely a collection of words for me—it was the first personalized cold email I ever sent to someone I profoundly admired, and it wasn't in vain... I got a response!

But that's not the best part. It laid the foundation for a mentorship that has been an immeasurable source of wisdom and guidance.

Today's email is also special because it highlights what to avoid when writing a cold email. While it's not my finest work, I'm confident you'll enjoy it just fine.

So, without further ado, let's dive into it!

Or, you know, you could skip all this malarkey and just go about your day, doing actual work, enjoying life and whatnot. It's completely up to you.

First, the subject line: "Shaan Puri." 

Why Shaan?

Kendall was recently a guest on the My First Million podcast. There, Shaan, with his astute line of questioning, turned Kendall and his co-founder's acquisition of Milk Road into an enlightening conversation.

Hence, the subject line. I had a hunch that dropping Shaan's name would definitely pique Kendall's interest. It's a well-known fact in the world of marketing, the sole job of the subject line is to get the email opened.

And boy, did it work like a charm!

The opening gambit was this: "Hi Kendall, I was impressed by your story on the MFM pod and thought of reaching out to you." 

Uncomplicated and direct. Beginning with a nod to someone’s story is always an effective opener, yet in retrospect, it might have had a greater impact with a tad more specificity.

The subsequent line was: "If you're interested in collecting phenomenal talent, read on, otherwise say NO." This sentence remains a personal favorite of mine. It’s audacious and presents Kendall with a quick exit if he’s not hooked. But if he is, it immediately reels him in.

Then I laid out some of my credentials: "I run a small agency that books appointments for agencies and SaaS businesses. I also write for a few CEOs on LinkedIn." 

This was my attempt at demonstrating some credibility, but upon reflection, it comes across as a bit too "me, me, me." I ought to have placed more emphasis on how my skills could be of benefit to Kendall.

The art of the pitch is a delicate one, and it's all a learning process. But perhaps the most important lesson of all is this: it's not about you, it's about them.

Following that, the part that makes me want to hide under the sofa: "I am passionate about making money while learning." Well, aren't we all?

But let's face it, it's not exactly a unique selling point that needs to be stamped in a cold email. It was an amateur blunder, and I've since honed my craft in the art of strategic communication.

Then came the line that haunts my dreams: "I feel working like working for you in some capacity will accelerate my growth, much like the Tesla Roadster (when it finally hits the road). 😭" 

Yes, you read it correctly—"working like working."

It was as if my eagerness to work with Kendall had caused a short circuit in my sentence construction!

And the Tesla Roadster quip? That was my stab at injecting some humor and making a nod to the podcast, but it just came off as a tad desperate and, well, grammatically disastrous.

The closing line: "Would you be willing to risk a bit of your time on a wildcard like me?" 

It reeks of desperation, doesn't it? But guess what—it did the trick!

While Kendall didn't have any immediate opportunities, he was intrigued enough to maintain correspondence.

Now, every few months, I ping him with updates on my journey and always receive pearls of wisdom in return.

It's as if I've wrangled myself a personal mentor of extraordinary wealth, simply through tenacity and a cold email.

So, there you have it, the anatomy of a less-than-perfect cold email. Not my finest piece of work, to be sure, but it was the spark that ignited my quest for high-stakes connections.

And, even though it was laced with flaws, it awarded me one hell of a mentorship.

The moral of the story? Just get started, even if it means stumbling through a few blunders.

Thanks for sticking around, and may your cold emails yield bountiful returns!

Keep hustling, my friends!

Hey folks,

Exciting news on the horizon! I'm in the process of transitioning this newsletter over to BeeHiiv.

It's a platform that aligns perfectly with my vision and will allow us to connect in an even better way.

Once we're all set up and buzzing, I'll make sure to drop the link either here in the newsletter or through my posts on LinkedIn.

Make sure you're keeping an eye out for that

As always, thank you for your continued support and engagement.

Message From Kabir…

Hey reader!

I'm Kabir Krishn, the founder of upTalkk. I believe that Cold email provides the most asymmetric edge one can have.

Every week, I pen countless cold emails, each a stepping stone towards connection, growth and success.

• Are you doubting your cold email game? This newsletter is tailored to help you level up and command the inbox like a pro. Drop a comment and I’ll respond.

• If you're hunting for that personalized touch, I offer 1-1 coaching. Just drop me a line at [email protected] and together we can refine your approach.

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