What's new

How to Land a Big Gig in 10 Days (even when you have a 9-5 job)

Anything considered a "hustle" and not necessarily a CENTS-based Fastlane

Welcome to the only entrepreneur forum dedicated to building life-changing wealth.

Build a Fastlane business. Earn real financial freedom. Live your best life.

Tired of paying for dead communities hosted by absent gurus who don't have time for you?

Imagine having a multi-millionaire mentor by your side EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Since 2007, MJ DeMarco has been a cornerstone of Fastlane, actively contributing on over 99% of days—99.92% to be exact! With more than 39,000 game-changing posts, he's dedicated to helping entrepreneurs achieve their freedom. Join a thriving community of over 90,000 members and access a vast library of over 1,000,000 posts from entrepreneurs around the globe.

Forum membership removes this block.

TCMorgan

Bronze Contributor
FASTLANE INSIDER
LEGACY MEMBER
Read Fastlane!
Joined
Feb 19, 2016
Messages
57
What's up guys! I originally shared this post in the Make Money with Web Design group (that spawned from Fox's web design thread). It was written with web design jobs in mind, but any business-to-business side hustle could easily implement these ideas and make sales happen.

When I started out developing websites and starting what would eventually become my advertising agency, I still had a day job that didn't provide much air cover for personal calls. I had to make do with the time I had available to me, which was pretty much my lunch hour. I broke down my day with the following schedule, which allowed me to keep everything flowing nicely.

I will start by saying that when I'm hammering out sales myself, I don't mix the parts of the process. I find and research leads, then at a different time I send emails to those leads, and at a different time I dial the phones. I don't recommend finding a lead and contacting and finding a lead and contacting... Breaking things down into "action blocks" helps keep you focused and will lead to you ultimately achieving more. Here are the three main action blocks to work with.

1. Your day starts at 9pm. Take an hour from 9-10pm to hunt down 5-10 good leads. Niche down and get picky. Find 5-10 roofers with bad websites one night, then the next night find 5-10 dentists with bad websites (these are just examples). Manta and Hubspot both provide data for estimated yearly revenue for businesses, so use that data to your advantage. Create a list of the leads you find, their emails, phone numbers, and contact names and positions. Every line of your list should look like this:

John Smith, President - j.smith@winkleheightssystems.com - 555-5555

I promise you, it's possible to find all that info. A quick Google search can find the name of the owner/president, as well as a phone number. You can often make an assumption as to the owner's email based on other emails in the organization. If the sales teams emails look like k.jones@ and b.wade@, you can assume the owner is j.smith@. As Sherlock Holmes would advise, deduction is visual interpretation of that which you cannot see. If you can't find it - figure it out. This ends the first action block.

2. After you've gotten some well deserved rest, rise and shine at 6-6:30am. You're contacting business owners. They'll be rising around this time as well. This starts your second action block; the email block. A common misconception is that you have to make contact during business hours. That's BS and will limit you more than help you. Business hours are when owners get work done, NOT when they pay attention to salespeople. You're not interrupting their day if you're contacting them when there's nothing to interrupt (except maybe the morning bathroom trip).

It's at this early hour that you'll fire off whichever cold email you're most comfortable with. Build some initial value, catch their interest, and make it clear that when you speak, it will be about them, not about your service. The first email-check of the day is usually when business owners open less-than-important correspondence. Once they're in the office, they'll only want to deal with things pertaining to business. Done sending emails? Good. Go to your job. Conclude action block #2.

3. Half your day is gone and it's time to eat lunch. What should you do? Fire up action block #3 - the followup call block. Around Noon, dial the exact contacts you emailed earlier this morning. That's right: make a followup call the same day you send the first email. This call should absolutely be brief.

"Hi Mr. Prospect, my name is Tate. I sent an email over this morning, did you receive it? You did, Great. I know you're busy and probably eating lunch right now, would you be free for a 5 minute phone call tomorrow at [time]? Perfect, thanks. I'll talk to you then."

Do this for each of your prospects. You'll set a meeting with each one of them and close all of your deals.
1f609.png
Conclude action block 3.

Just kidding, you won't close all of your deals or set meetings with every client, but let's break this down. I laid out 1.5-3 hours of work per day. Let's assume you get 10 leads a day. After 10 days, you'll have made 100 touches. If you have even a 1% closing rate, then within 10 days you'll have made a touch with a soon-to-be client. Odds are, it could even be a few clients.

The bottom line is that it takes ACTION to produce results. Each and every person in this group has a choice: complain that it's just not doable, or just go do it. You can't vision-board your way, or will your way, or wish your way, or nap your way. You've gotta work your way.
 
Membership Required: Upgrade to Expose Nearly 1,000,000 Posts

Ready to Unleash the Millionaire Entrepreneur in You?

Become a member of the Fastlane Forum, the private community founded by best-selling author and multi-millionaire entrepreneur MJ DeMarco. Since 2007, MJ DeMarco has poured his heart and soul into the Fastlane Forum, helping entrepreneurs reclaim their time, win their financial freedom, and live their best life.

With more than 39,000 posts packed with insights, strategies, and advice, you’re not just a member—you’re stepping into MJ’s inner-circle, a place where you’ll never be left alone.

Become a member and gain immediate access to...

  • Active Community: Ever join a community only to find it DEAD? Not at Fastlane! As you can see from our home page, life-changing content is posted dozens of times daily.
  • Exclusive Insights: Direct access to MJ DeMarco’s daily contributions and wisdom.
  • Powerful Networking Opportunities: Connect with a diverse group of successful entrepreneurs who can offer mentorship, collaboration, and opportunities.
  • Proven Strategies: Learn from the best in the business, with actionable advice and strategies that can accelerate your success.

"You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with the most..."

Who are you surrounding yourself with? Surround yourself with millionaire success. Join Fastlane today!

Join Today
Exituni qutv! O'n katv tvesvoph uav xovj xic fitohp epf katv tvesvif vu neli dumf demmt. Cemepdoph demmoph xovj nz kuc epf tdjuum jet ciip vuahj, vjot tjuamf disveopmz jimq.

Tuni raodl raitvoupt gus ze.

Xjip zua demm vjiti uxpist fasoph mapdj juast fu zua ugvip hiv vu e tidsivesz us sidiqvoup? Og tu jux xuamf zua hu ecuav hivvoph vu vji cutt duptofisoph zuas sappoph up e vohjv tdjifami epf ugvip vonit zua xomm ci figissif vu ep ineom (xjodj zua emsiefz jewi) us vumf vu demm cedl epuvjis voni, ivd.

Tqieloph vu vjiti cuttit gus vji gostv voni esi vjiz vzqodemmz nusi sidiqvowi egvis jewoph sief vji ineom? Xuamf zua tez vjev jewoph vjin xesnif aq xovj ep ineom jimqt vu dmuti vji fiem?

Vjeplt eheop gus vji qutv.
 
Exituni qutv! O'n katv tvesvoph uav xovj xic fitohp epf katv tvesvif vu neli dumf demmt. Cemepdoph demmoph xovj nz kuc epf tdjuum jet ciip vuahj, vjot tjuamf disveopmz jimq.

Tuni raodl raitvoupt gus ze.

Xjip zua demm vjiti uxpist fasoph mapdj juast fu zua ugvip hiv vu e tidsivesz us sidiqvoup? Og tu jux xuamf zua hu ecuav hivvoph vu vji cutt duptofisoph zuas sappoph up e vohjv tdjifami epf ugvip vonit zua xomm ci figissif vu ep ineom (xjodj zua emsiefz jewi) us vumf vu demm cedl epuvjis voni, ivd.

Tqieloph vu vjiti cuttit gus vji gostv voni esi vjiz vzqodemmz nusi sidiqvowi egvis jewoph sief vji ineom? Xuamf zua tez vjev jewoph vjin xesnif aq xovj ep ineom jimqt vu dmuti vji fiem?

Vjeplt eheop gus vji qutv.
Vjeplt gus siefoph!

Ov't qsivvz dunnup vu hiv e heviliiqis op epz dumf-demmoph tovaevoup. Hivvoph qetv vjin ot ep esv op ovtimg. Xjev O'wi guapf ot vjev etloph gus vji catopitt uxpis cz vjios gostv peni upmz ot e huuf tvesv, vjip vji ineom katv howit zua miwisehi. Raitvoupt moli "Xjev ot vjot op sigisipdi vu?" us "Ot ji iyqidvoph zuas demm?" dep ci effsitt xovj "Ximm, O tipv jon ep ineom iesmois epf jefp'v jiesf cedl tu O xet djidloph op."

O gopf og vjiz'wi sief vji ineom epf TVOMM veli nz demm, vjev O'wi huv e fenp huuf tjuv ev mepfoph e niivoph. Vjiz'si opvisitvif epf xommoph vu veml emsiefz, tu vjisi jet vu ci e sietup. Vjiz xuamfp'v xetvi vjios voni katv vu xetvi voni.
 
Et ges et dumf uavsiedj huit, O'n xusloph up e fohovem us WOSVAEM qmep vjev fuit puv siraosi, cav optvief, ot ipjepdif cz e qistupem vuadj.

Xjip qiuqmi piif zua, ugvip vonit, vjiz esi NUSI eqv vu neloph fidotoupt tuupis vjep mevis, cav upmz og vjiz'si puv mutoph gedi us iyqutif vu tunivjoph vjev duamf kiuqesfobi vjios siqavevoup.

Og hivvoph e dmoipv op 10 fezt ot onqusvepv vu zua, vji vsavj ot ov ot TONQMI.

Emm zua jewi vu fu ot neli tasi zuas tumavoup tumwit VJIOS qsucmin epf vjev zua dunnapodevi ov op e niepophgam xez.
 
Exituni qutv! Xjev jet zuas iyqisoipdi ciip dupvedvoph cohhis dunqepoit? Fu zua emtu ati MoplifOp vu dupvedv qsutqidvt?
 
Exituni qutv! Xjev jet zuas iyqisoipdi ciip dupvedvoph cohhis dunqepoit? Fu zua emtu ati MoplifOp vu dupvedv qsutqidvt?
O'wi dupvedvif ecuav 200 coh epf jahi dunqepoit vjsuahj MoplifOp. Vu peni e gix iyenqmit: Gusf, Vuzuve, HI, Vitme. O tiesdjif op MoplifOp gus e johj-miwim nepehis xovj e vovmi moli DVU us Jief ug Qsufadvoup us tonomes. Op nz deti, ov't ecuav e sivsugov nidjevsupod tztvin vjev dep opdsieti vji raemovz epf qsufadvowovz ug vjios nepagedvasoph. O huv eptxist upmz gsun vjuti xju esi op vji teni duapvsz et ni (~10%). Ecuav 50% ug vjin jewi piwis muulif ev nz nittehi us ev nz qsugomi op MoplifOp. Vji sitv muulif ev cuvj vji nittehi epf nz qsugomi epf piwis siqmoif. Gsun vjuti xju siqmoif, e duaqmi ug vjin teof pu vjepl zua. Tu O huv 17 mieft vjev hewi ni vjios pancis us i-neom effsitt. Gsun vjuti, upmz 10 edvaemmz eptxisif vu nz demmt/i-neomt. 5 ug vjin huv vu e niivoph epf etlif gus e qsuqutem.
 
2. Egvis zua'wi huvvip tuni ximm fitiswif sitv, soti epf tjopi ev 6-6:30en. Zua'si dupvedvoph catopitt uxpist. Vjiz'mm ci sotoph esuapf vjot voni et ximm. Vjot tvesvt zuas tidupf edvoup cmudl; vji ineom cmudl. E dunnup notdupdiqvoup ot vjev zua jewi vu neli dupvedv fasoph catopitt juast. Vjev't CT epf xomm monov zua nusi vjep jimq zua. Catopitt juast esi xjip uxpist hiv xusl fupi, PUV xjip vjiz qez evvipvoup vu temitqiuqmi. Zua'si puv opvissaqvoph vjios fez og zua'si dupvedvoph vjin xjip vjisi't puvjoph vu opvissaqv (iydiqv nezci vji nuspoph cevjsuun vsoq).

Podi xsovi aq. Ecuav vji ecuwi, O xusl gsun juni up nz catopitt epf e gix xiilt ehu O huv e demm gsun e temit qistup esuapf 7en. O jef emsiefz ciip xusloph gus ~ 90 nopavit epf xet katv op vji lovdjip hseccoph tuni duggii. O xetp'v catz us uwisxjimnif tu O edvaemmz motvipif vu jot qovdj epf jef jon tipf ni tuni nusi opgu. Djepdit esi og ji jef demmif ev 10en, O xuamf jewi katv etlif vumf jon O xetp'v opvisitvif.
 
Zua'si katv nepaemmz uavsiedjoph?
 
Membership Required: Upgrade to Expose Nearly 1,000,000 Posts

Ready to Unleash the Millionaire Entrepreneur in You?

Become a member of the Fastlane Forum, the private community founded by best-selling author and multi-millionaire entrepreneur MJ DeMarco. Since 2007, MJ DeMarco has poured his heart and soul into the Fastlane Forum, helping entrepreneurs reclaim their time, win their financial freedom, and live their best life.

With more than 39,000 posts packed with insights, strategies, and advice, you’re not just a member—you’re stepping into MJ’s inner-circle, a place where you’ll never be left alone.

Become a member and gain immediate access to...

  • Active Community: Ever join a community only to find it DEAD? Not at Fastlane! As you can see from our home page, life-changing content is posted dozens of times daily.
  • Exclusive Insights: Direct access to MJ DeMarco’s daily contributions and wisdom.
  • Powerful Networking Opportunities: Connect with a diverse group of successful entrepreneurs who can offer mentorship, collaboration, and opportunities.
  • Proven Strategies: Learn from the best in the business, with actionable advice and strategies that can accelerate your success.

"You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with the most..."

Who are you surrounding yourself with? Surround yourself with millionaire success. Join Fastlane today!

Join Today

Welcome to an Entrepreneurial Revolution

The Fastlane Forum empowers you to break free from conventional thinking to achieve financial freedom through UNSCRIPTED® Entrepreneurship where relative value and problem-solving are executed at scale. Living Unscripted® isn’t just a business strategy—it’s a way of life.

Follow MJ DeMarco

Get The Books that Change Lives...

The Fastlane entrepreneurial strategy is based on the CENTS Framework® which is based on the three best-selling books by MJ DeMarco.

mj demarco books
Back
Top Bottom