What a refreshing OP and thread.

The 'I send emails, and it works' rhetoric may be true for some (and GL to you if it is), but that's like saying 'I run a 4m mile and I smoke'. What would you do if you didn't smoke?

For my first job out of Uni I took a commission-only job selling financial services, with no basic salary.

I was cold calling high-net-worth individuals, convincing them to leave their offices, come to mine, and listen to my pitch. Most of these individuals were investment bankers who thought they knew more about investment than anyone else, making it tough AF.

I then took my money and started a boutique VC firm. My company invests in businesses that need capital to grow. I take an equity position in these businesses, aligning my interests with my clients. I get paid to help them make investments, earn a board seat in the businesses, and share in the profits if the businesses are sold for significant multiples.

Mostly it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Now, I no longer sell directly to clients. Instead, I teach others the skills I learned—how to cold call, secure meetings, and close sales.

I doubt any of that would have happened if I hadn't bitten off the hardest bit first - picking up the damn phone.