I've helped dozens of founders go from zero to their first paying customers. Here's what actually moves the needle — not what Twitter gurus tell you.

1. Talk to 50 people before you build anything else.

Not surveys. Not Twitter polls. Actual 1-on-1 conversations. Ask them what they're struggling with, what they've tried, and what they'd pay for. Your first 5 customers will come from these conversations.

2. Pick ONE channel and go deep.

Cold DMs, SEO, short-form content, communities — pick ONE. Most founders fail because they're posting on 6 platforms and mastering none. Go where your customers already hang out, and become the most helpful person there.

3. Offer a guarantee that makes it a no-brainer.

Your first customers don't trust you yet. Remove the risk entirely. "If you don't see results in 30 days, I'll refund you and keep working with you for free." Sounds crazy, but it converts — and you'll learn faster than any course can teach you.

The biggest mistake? Waiting until your product is "ready." It's never ready. Ship, sell, iterate.

I teach this and a lot more inside The Growth Engine — weekly frameworks, live coaching, and a private community of founders actually doing the work.