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.

Amanda Adabah

I was posting on YouTube, but at first it was inconsistent. Once I started to get more consistent , there was a woman that emailed me about an issue she was having with her relationship. She told me that she didn’t have the finances to pay, but that she could basically exchange energy for a painting she had done. Read more>>

Martell Washington

It’s truly astonishing how swiftly the world of content creation can turn on a dime. I vividly recall my very first brand deal—DSW. The moment I opened that email, a wave of excitement washed over me, as they expressed their admiration for my content and enthusiasm for collaborating. Read more>>

Stephanie Omotosho

I still remember the morning I earned my first “real” dollar in this business. Not from a friend. Not from a referral. From someone who heard me speak for the first time and decided. This woman knows what she’s doing. I walked into a BNI meeting feeling both nervous and ready. Read more>>

Yoyo

My very first clients were the designers I worked with when I was still in commercial interior design. I’d wear and bring pieces I made to the office, and my coworkers were always curious about what I was experimenting with. A few of them asked if they could buy what I was making, and that small boost of confidence meant everything in those early stages. Read more>>

Dominique Maddox

In 2010, when I started selling restaurants, I didn’t have experience, a portfolio, or a long list of connections. What I did have was hunger, discipline, and a belief that hard work could open doors talent alone couldn’t. I built my entire prospecting system from scratch. Read more>>

Ashley Brown

Our company was actually created during the Covid Pandemic out of necessity. After decades in the event world, we found many event clients (mostly weddings) reaching out for advice on how to best pivot their events in a world that looked completely different (hosting events was even illegal in some areas). Our first official client reached out to us to help pivot their wedding plans and we went to contract before we even had our logo. That client has since become one of our greatest friends and supporters. Read more>>