In this blog, you’ll see how one founder built a career by emailing 100 strangers in 100 days, why I still believe inboxes quietly beat social feeds, and how we used the exact same cold email system we run for clients to generate $3M+ for Email Outreach Company.
If you’ve been sitting on the email that feels a little too big or a little too risky… this one’s for you. 💌
📨 Send the Email That Scares You (On Purpose)
I just read about founder Carly Valancy, who built her career by emailing 100 strangers in 100 days and learning how to make the kind of “scary ask” most of us avoid. Her approach flips the script: instead of trying to sound impressive, she writes simple, human emails that make a clear request and accept that “no” is part of the game, not a verdict on her worth.
Key Takeaways:
- 💌 Lead with a real connection: Open with how you found them and why you chose them specifically — not a generic “hope you’re well.”
- 🎯 Make one specific ask: Instead of “pick your brain,” ask for something concrete: a 10-minute call, feedback on one question, or an intro to a type of person.
- 😅 Normalize rejection upfront: Signal that “no” is totally fine. It lowers pressure for them and for you, which actually increases replies.
- 🔁 Treat it like reps, not magic: One “scary email” won’t change your life — but 50 or 100 will. Volume plus intention beats waiting for the perfect moment.
🎙️ Cold Email, AI, and Building Through Failure
I joined David Meltzer on Office Hours at the SiriusXM studios in Las Vegas to talk about something most people still sleep on: email. We got into why inboxes beat social vanity metrics, how tools can either ruin or elevate your outreach, and what entrepreneurship actually feels like when you are hanging onto a branch in a hurricane.
Key Takeaways:
- 📧 Email still quietly wins: Done right, it connects you directly to decision-makers while everyone else chases likes.
- 🤖 AI is a sharp tool, not a shortcut: If you use it to be lazy, your emails read that way. Used well, it scales real personalization.
- 💥 Failure requires reps: You will embarrass yourself over and over. The people who win are the ones who keep shipping and learning.
- ❤️ You can’t automate caring: Technology should make it easier to show up as a human, not hide behind templates.
📊 How We Turned Our Own Cold Emails Into $3M+ in Revenue
We did not just build a cold email system for clients, we ran it on ourselves first. Over four years, we used the same playbook we now deploy for brands like UFC and Allstate to book 1,000+ meetings and generate more than $3 million in revenue straight from email. This case study breaks down exactly how we did it.
Read the full case study here »
Key Takeaways:
- 🎯 We treated EOC like a client: Clear ICP, tight targeting, and message-market fit. No “spray and pray.”
- ✉️ Cold email + newsletter flywheel: Outbound created meetings, the newsletter nurtured and warmed bigger opportunities.
- ⚙️ Infrastructure and iteration: Automated follow-ups, CRM integration, and constant testing turned replies into booked calls.
- 🚀 Real pipeline impact: 1,000+ meetings, faster sales cycles, and millions in revenue from one primary channel: cold email.
My Last $.02
The gap between where you are and the deals you want is rarely a better logo or a fancier funnel — it’s usually a handful of uncomfortable, specific emails you haven’t sent yet.
The founders and teams who win aren’t braver; they just ship more, learn faster, and build systems that make “scary” outreach normal.
Until next time, happy emailing!
Adam