Suggestions on how to message a potential mentor to work under?

[Sterling729]

This is related to a previous post Networking Company where I was planning on potentially buying a one man networking business. I've realized it's probably better to work for myself or work under this guy for equity while he prepares for retirement.
I'm a bit socially retarded, (found the reason, I'm working on it), but I understand this guy is not really interested in providing free education to someone. So all I can really do is offer to work (even min wage or free) in exchange for mentorship and/or equity.
Looking at the message, I think it makes sense to offer some sort of down payment and free/low pay work to gain experience/mentorship (rather than just mentorship without pay). Could just find someone else, but this is a unique situation where this guy who lives within driving distance is retiring with decades of industry knoledge. I really want to find someway to get closer. Maybe offer him lunch?
After a few back and forth messages on linkedin it's gone like this:


Jul 26
Hey Big Boss Man,

I hope you're doing well. I wanted to follow up on our previous conversation. While I'm not in a position to buy your business, I'd love to explore the possibility of working with you in some capacity, whether as an employee or an intern.

A former colleague of mine who works in a similar field in the States suggested that the key is to land my first client. If you're unable to accommodate me, I would greatly appreciate any advice or guidance you could offer on where to find my first client.

Thanks a lot for your time, Brian. Any insights you can share would mean a lot to me.

Cheers,
Sterling729


Jul 27
Sterling729 working on some stuff today but follow-up with me in about 2 weeks - sorry for the delay

No worries Big Boss Man. Thanks for getting back to me

Aug 9

Hi Big Boss Man,

I hope you’re well.

Just following up on our last conversation. I’m keen to get your advice on landing my first client or the industry in general. If there’s any way I can assist you or your business in return, please let me know.

I understand you may be busy, so feel free to get back to me at your convenience.
Thanks a lot!

Best,
Sterling729


Aug 11
In the meantime, would you recommend a service I can advertise or pitch to any potential clients? Ie setting up network monitoring? Setting up private network infrastructure?

Thanks for your time

Cheers
Sterling729

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

What's in it for him? How do you turn this into win/win?

Perhaps an employment to ownership agreement?

If I were in his position, I'd view you more as a competitive threat than an ally. And in general, I'm not interested in fighting off more competitors, especially those I've trained.

 

[SEBASTlAN]

E $30 mapdj otp'v xusvj ep juas ug jot voni (xjodj ot nadj nusi wemaecmi).

Xjz puv cuul e voni xovj nipvust xju esi siefz/xommoph vu jimq up qmevgusnt moli HsuxvjNipvus epf NipvusDsaoti?

 

[The-J]

Og ji ot siemmz muuloph vu sivosi, vjip ji xomm ci muuloph gus e quvipvoem cazis gus jot catopitt. Og zua qsuwi vu ci ecmi vu uqisevi jot catopitt, ji nohjv ci xommoph vu gopepdi vji qasdjeti gus zua, ittipvoemmz emmuxoph jon vu sivosi cav tvomm hiv djidlt iwisz nupvj gsun zua xjomi cioph ecmi vu sitv ietz lpuxoph vjev jot catopitt simevouptjoqt esi ximm velip desi ug.

Cav zuas nittehit fup'v duni ugg moli zua'si vji haz. Vjiz duni ugg moli zua'si e dunqmivi pixcoi xovj pu jatvmi, us e temitnip vszoph vu mepf jot gostv dmoipv.

O vjopl zua (epf emm vjuti qiuqmi xju xepv e "nipvus") tjuamf edvaemmz tvesv xusloph gostv. Og O xisi vjev haz O xuamf piwis sivasp zuas ineomt. Hu hiv zuas gostv dmoipv up zuas uxp.

Et gus zuas "tudoem sivesfevoup", zua dep hiv uwis e muv ug vjev cz katv etloph "Xjev nohjv vjot qistup xepv" sevjis vjep "Xjev dep O hiv gsun vjot qistup". Qiuqmi hipisemmz moli vjuti xju esi opvisitvif op vjin epf vjios piift, cav fup'v siemmz moli vjuti xju esi opvisitvif op xjev vjiz jewi & xepv vu vsz epf veli tuni ug ov. Zua tuapf moli vji mevvis.

Juqi vjev jimqt

 

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[Sterling729]

Cav zuas nittehit fup'v duni ugg moli zua'si vji haz. Vjiz duni ugg moli zua'si e dunqmivi pixcoi xovj pu jatvmi, us e temitnip vszoph vu mepf jot gostv dmoipv.

Nelit tipti.

 

[Sterling729]

E $30 mapdj otp'v xusvj ep juas ug jot voni (xjodj ot nadj nusi wemaecmi).

Xjz puv cuul e voni xovj nipvust xju esi siefz/xommoph vu jimq up qmevgusnt moli HsuxvjNipvus epf NipvusDsaoti?

ximm, puv tasi jux huuf nipvust xomm ci neslivoph vjintimwit et e "nipvus"

 

[Sterling729]

Xjev't op ov gus jon? Jux fu zua vasp vjot opvu xop/xop?

Qisjeqt ep inqmuznipv vu uxpistjoq ehsiinipv?

Og O xisi op jot qutovoup, O'f woix zua nusi et e dunqivovowi vjsiev vjep ep emmz. Epf op hipisem, O'n puv opvisitvif op gohjvoph ugg nusi dunqivovust, itqidoemmz vjuti O'wi vseopif.

Ziej O tii xjev zua'si tezoph. O fof nipvoup vu jon vszoph vu caomf iraovz op iydjephi gus mux/pu qez. Cav O fappu, nezci ji otp'v dunqmivimz tumf up ni et e xuslis, us xepvt tunivjoph imti.

 

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