Getting your first client is an exhilarating experience, but it’s also an experience that far too many aspiring entrepreneurs never experience. Sometimes, the difference between an idea dying in the idea stage or going on to change the world is getting that first customer – the first tiny win that creates the momentum to make an idea real. So, we connected with some of the smartest folks we could and asked them to tell us the stories of how they got their initial clients.

Christen Lockett

I met my first client on a family vacation. They saw that I was staying at the same hotel as them for the Orange Bowl on social media, and we struck up a conversation about their future in football. They had a goal to be drafted to the Dallas Cowboys and asked if I would be their publicist when they were drafted. Read more>>

Bidisha

I was new in town and did not know many people. I had just learnt about Nextdoor app where I was looking for plumbers and electricians and thought of adding my classes there! To my surprise, I had neighbors signing up for my classes! I expanded the classes and created my business ‘Create Your Curry’! Read more>>

Kathleen Lawson

At the time I started my business, a friend became the leader of a local chapter of a national networking group. She invited me to attend one of her meetings. I went, not really knowing what to expect – and hoping to just meet some new people. From that meeting, I scheduled several 1:1s and one of those people hired me. And actually my plan had been to focus more on the operations side of things – thinking it would be an easier way to build a business. But during my first meeting with that new client, I asked her “what are we doing?” and her reply was, “what should I do?” I shifted my focus to strategy – where, given my background, I realized was in better alignment. And I never looked back. Read more>>