Leon Eisen explains why people email 100 strangers instead of calling one former boss. A rejection from someone who knows your work stings more than silence from a stranger, even though the familiar contact could actually help you.
I've talked about fundraising, but changing strangers first isn't only a founder habit. Asking a stranger feels braver. It usually isn't. A job seeker sends 100 applications before calling the old boss who saw their best work. A salesperson chases new clients before asking a happy customer to buy more. A founder books 30 new meetings before calling the investors they already have. A stranger's no costs almost nothing. Someone who knows you can say no with full information. That's the conversation we avoid.
From Hope to Promised Money: A Smarter Way to Plan Your Next Fundraising Round
