Groundwork

Step-by-step guides

Find your first customers

First customers come from a loop, not from luck. Choose a small group, have five learning conversations, make one small offer, and review what you heard.

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01

Step 1 — pick a narrow group

Not “everyone who needs this.” One group you can name and find.

  • A named group with a clear boundary (10 customers in my neighborhood, zip code, city, etc.)

02

Step 2 — have five learning conversations

Reach out to five people in that group. Not to sell — to learn.

  • What does that part of your work look like today?
  • What is the most annoying part of it?
  • What have you tried that did not work?

03

Step 3 — make a small offer

Based on what you heard, offer one small, concrete thing at one clear price. Small enough that saying yes is easy.

  • One small, concrete offer
  • One clear price

04

Step 4 — deliver, then review

After the work, ask three questions.

  • What worked?
  • What was confusing?
  • Would you recommend this to one person you know?

05

Step 5 — run the loop again

Each round, narrow your group or sharpen your offer based on what you learned. First customers come from the loop, not from luck.

  • Five conversations
  • One small offer
  • One review
  • Repeat

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