I get this all the time. DMs, emails, some version of "hey Nathan, can I pick your brain?" And I get it, the intention is good. But here is what that message actually says to the person receiving it: I want your most valuable asset, your time, and I am going to give you nothing in return.
Here is the thing: I grew up in the suburbs with zero entrepreneurial connections. No successful friends, no business-owning parents, no network to speak of. Every single room I have ever been in, I built my way into from nothing. And the principle that made it possible is stupidly simple.
In this episode, I share the serve first, ask later framework and walk through exactly how I used it to land interviews with Richard Branson four months into building Foundr, connect with Gary Vee, Mark Cuban, and Arianna Huffington, and build a network that has carried me through some of the hardest seasons of my career.
Here's what you'll take away:
Why "can I pick your brain?" is broken and what it signals to the person on the other end
The one question that should drive every networking interaction: how can I genuinely help this person and expect nothing in return
How framing the ask around someone's mission, not your need, is what got Richard Branson to say yes to a four month old magazine
The actual playbook for building from zero: how to figure out your currency, find the right person, and reach out with a specific offer tied to what they are working on right now
Why stopping putting successful people on a pedestal is the mindset shift that changes how every conversation starts
Why you need both peers and mentors in your network and what each one does for you that the other cannot
If you have been waiting until you have more followers, a bigger platform, or something impressive to show before reaching out to people you want to learn from, this episode will show you that you already have more to offer than you think.
If you're loving this solo series, I'd love to hear your feedback. Email me directly at nathan@foundr.com — I read every reply. Hope you enjoy it.
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