#2: How to Get the Job Everyone is Going For

The 4 step “reach out" technique that got me a job with Jesse Itzler and beyond

New York City, May 2018

I showed up to Jesse Itzler’s book signing, excited to leave with a signed copy of his new book...instead…

…I left with a loose job offer and a call to action:

“Do you want an internship or something? DM me - if you want that experience, it could be great. I’m an Amanda fan! I recognize you, you’re the youngest one in my course! You ask great questions!” - Jesse Itzler

In the jumble of Jesse’s DM’s, how did I stand out? Let me take you through it.

Over the past 7 years, I’ve distilled it down to 4 steps that have gotten me a couple “dream” gigs (see my Yes Theory Collab as another example).

If you do this and you’ll be in a better spot than 90% of the other people who are reaching out.

How to land your dream gig with someone who inspires you:

1. Be a fan (the right way)

2. Get involved, invest in showing up, support the cause

3. Offer help within the community

4. Don’t ask, just do (add value)

1. It’s Not Lame to Be a Fan (just do it right)

If someone is publicly sharing their work or their story - it’s because they’re proud of it. They’re excited for people to interact with the wisdom and knowledge they’re sharing.

When I was a new Jesse Itzler fan, fresh off from reading his book - you KNOW I was leaving enthusiastic comments on his posts. I’d re-post things of his to my IG story alongside a string of posts of my own. I’m a fan, I’m a great hype girl - but not to the point where it comes off obsessive. Everything I’m inspired by as a fan of Jesse Itzler - I’m using that inspiration to apply it to my own life.

Instead of commenting/dm’ing “I love you! I love you! I love you!” (big no, obsessive, generic) - try DM’ing something like: “Woah! Thanks for sharing- because of that you inspired me to go do _____________.” It sparks more thought, potential conversation - and shows the person that you’re the kind of person to take ACTION from their wisdom. You’ve got your own thing going for you.

The motto is: be a fan, authentic enthusiasm, expect nothing in return. It’s only a bonus if there’s a response.

(example of my 2018 self making instagram stories hyping up Sara and Jesse’s work)

2. Get Involved, Invest in Showing Up, Support the Cause

The next step is going from being a passive fan to getting involved by investing in and showing up to the communities/events/products that this person is offering. Again - this person WANTS to see you sign up & take that initiative.

For me, it was that Jesse had just launched the first cohort of his “Build Your Life Resume” course. For $99 (at the time, this was 2018), the BYLR course entailed a small facebook group of 118 people & 8 weeks of a weekly live zoom call with entrepreneurial stories from Jesse. Suddenly - I went from being completely disconnected, far away from ever having anything to do with Jesse Itzler- to woah, you’re telling me we’ll all be in 118 person FB group? Awesome.

By showing up, you’re showing that person that you support their vision and are willing to spend money on it. You’re already more dedicated than the 100% of people who just scroll by.

The motto is: show up, enjoy, participate, get excited, learn. You’re not there to be making any specific requests from the person. Expect nothing personal in return

3. Offer Help Within the Community

At the time, I’m 20 years old, sitting in my dorm room while the other 117 people in this BYLR course are grown adults running businesses.

The facebook group was poppin’ - everyone was willing to offer their talents to help each other.

What do I have to offer? iMovie video editing experience and an affinity for social media marketing (but going to school to be a Physician Assistant). I offered everyone in the facebook group free video editing for their business. I was just learning Adobe Premiere Pro but considered myself an iMovie genius. At least all those who were completely unfamiliar with the program thought I was ha.

I had access to all these new friendly strangers in the FB group who were willing to help out a young entrepreneur at her start.

In my free time, I was working on my own start-up, an app called, “Mark Your Map.” I’d raise my hand at any opportunity I got, hoping to get picked to ask Jesse a question on the Zoom calls (one time I got chosen, my heart was beating so fast & I went to un-mute myself and Zoom said my program was out of date and I needed to update. I freaked out and left the call. Updated ASAP and made it back just in time to hear them making jokes about “where did she go?” Still got to ask my question! ha)

Motto here: Even though I was young, I was super vocal about how I could offer my talents to anyone who needed it. Help just to enjoy being helpful. Get involved, participate, add value and be brave enough to ask questions when the opportunity presents itself.

Which brings us to the book signing…

4. Don’t Ask, Just Do (add value)

Because of how vocal and helpful I was throughout Jesse’s virtual BYLR course (posting in the FB group, raising my hand on the Zoom calls, tagging him in IG stories)…by the time I showed up in person, he recognized me!

My specific case has got to be one of those things when the universe and preparation and luck all come together at once - because something prompted Jesse to say:

I followed up with a DM - “Hey, it was so great meeting you! I’d love to talk more about the internship.” He responded with his email….crickets. (he’s a busy guy). I followed up in his dms…crickets.

I needed to be different. I needed to pull a Jesse Itzler - on Jesse Itzler.

So I took everything I learned from his course - and applied it to him. I thought about all the values he shared and stories he told - and the ways in which I share a similar perspective. I created a document and called it, “My Life Resume.” It represented me as a well-rounded, ambitious person who dares to dream and wants to work hard…but prioritizes room for friends, family & adventure.

I edited a video from his book signing that showed my personality and ability to edit a compelling story. At the end of this “Life Resume” - I wrote a paragraph at the bottom where I offered to edit content for him and do his social media. Ending with, “I’m willing to build my life resume in ways I don’t even know yet.”

I posted the video to 11 youtube subscribers & a small instagram following - and emailed the Life Resume to him directly.

I had no clue that posting that video, with all my 19 viewers…that one of them would be Sara Blakely. Jesse would send the link to her. They would review my life resume. They would say, “Hey, let’s give her a shot - no one else is sending us stuff like this.”

Woah. That’s when I got the email to hop on a facetime to talk about the internship & moving in with them.

If there’s anything I learned from working in Jesse’s DM’s

When I was Jesse’s Social Media Coordinator - I noticed a pattern in the people who reach out to him. THOUSANDS.

Most people ASK something OF HIM. “Can you do this? “Can you look at that…”. Believe it or not, it’s pretty rare for someone to come to him, having specifically pinpointed a way in which THEY can add to HIS vision. What’s even more rare - is someone doing that in a way that SHOWS and doesn’t tell. That’s what set me apart.

The final motto is: You can’t ASK for the job. To stand out, you’ve got to DO the job - create an example of what you’re capable of and present it in a creative way.

Ummm , you still with me? (i swear i haven’t done this face since 2012)

WOAH okay, this was a long one this week. This is my second newsletter and I’m in experimentation mode. If you made it to the end, can you comment the word violet. That’s the first word that popped into my head and it’s so random that I’ll know you got to the end.

Hit me with any questions or comments your heart desires! I want to steer this in a direction that provides value to the readers.

See you next week xxxx

All my love,

Amanda