Hustling takes time (and not ice baths)

Building Overslide S1, Ep 6: Building while juggling everything else

I'm writing this from my old apartment in Cluj at exactly midnight (I know, I should be sleeping by now). Came back to handle some admin stuff, doing a quick reno of this place to either rent it out or sell it. Haven't decided yet, but either way, it needs some work. And it takes a toll on my mindshare.

There's something fitting about writing an episode on "hustling takes time" while dealing with the unglamorous reality of adult responsibilities. Because that's what building actually looks like most of the time. Not the highlight reel of crushing sales calls and closing deals (and the Lambos, and parties...), but the in-between moments when you're juggling everything else (also, no fucking ice baths for me).

Another reality check

I've been trying to book sales calls for the past 2 weeks. My target was ambitious: 5 calls per week once the sales deck was ready.

The reality? Got ghosted once. Another one rescheduled. Zero actual calls this week. Nada.

I'm not even surprised, tbh. I've been pretty passive about it. A LinkedIn message here, a follow-up there. Not exactly the focused outreach blitz I had planned in my head (or any decent salesperson would consider enough). Perhaps I've been avoiding doing more because of fear. Fear of not being able to deliver on what I said I'd do. When in reality, I know I'm more than capable. Therapy ftw. But the magic is in the work you actually do, not the work you avoid.

The competing priorities problem is real. Giant Particle work always takes precedence (paying clients first), which leaves me with maybe one day a week, tops, for Overslide sales. If I'm real about my capacity, that's not enough time to expect miracles.

Oh, and I finally finished the sales deck

Buuuuut, speaking of finally getting shit done, the sales deck, in its v0.01, is done. Here's the Figma file if you want to see how I applied my own methodology to myself. It's not perfect (and in my mind, it will never be), but it's a version I can use (and I also show my face, which is part of the public thing, I guess).

Applying the Overslide process to Overslide was... humbling. Turns out I'm just as bad at explaining my own value as my clients are. The hardest slide? The pricing one. Easy to be transparent in theory, harder when it's your own ass on the line. Let's say I'm going premium, baby. Pricing needs to be higher because I compete on value, not numbers. It's a commoditized business already, and I can't possibly compete with someone using Canva (and the likes) on price.

Having it done is a welcome change. There's a confidence shift that comes from having all your ducks in a row. Now I can focus on outreach instead of making excuses about not having the right tools. Fuck procrastination.

Small systems, big impact

I'm halfway through Pat Flynn's "Superfans" book (yeah, I know, wtf didn't I read it sooner?!), and I've already implemented a couple of small things. Like updating the confirmation email after people subscribe to this Substack. Tiny improvement, but it sets better expectations. For those of you reading who aren't subscribed yet, this is your sign. Thanks.

This slow period isn't actually a bad thing. It gives me some time to build the infrastructure that makes everything else easier. More on this in a future episode, but there's something to be said for using quiet weeks to strengthen your foundation: finally set up the Overslide Gmail (previously using iCloud, not sure why?!), got a cal.com calendar live for intro calls, working on some sales automations, wrapping my head around agentic AI for outreach, etc.

The Ogilvy effect

Maybe it's because I've been talking about Overslide non-stop, but a couple of friends reached out this week asking for help with their decks. One is building a new business in the events space, while the other needs a fundraising deck. Both are due by fall, so enough time to play around and refine the process.

There's that David Ogilvy quote: "When people think of advertising, they think of you." Same principle. When you're always talking about presentations, people think of you when they need presentation help.

It matters because the more you say it, the more it sticks. Like that weird song you hear on the radio at 7 am and can't get rid of. Won't stop, sorry.

Some updates

One of the first clients I did a deck for (more like 2-3 pitch & sales decks) got some great feedback, so I'm stoked about that.

On the sales side, I have two calls scheduled for next week and one the week after. Not the 5-per-week pipeline I imagined, but it's movement.

The ghosting and rescheduling? Expected. I've seen this before with GP and at other places I've worked. People are busy, shit happens, timelines shift. It's not personal, it's just reality. You have to factor this stuff into the cycle.

What matters is that I'm building systems while waiting for momentum. The sales deck is done. The confirmation emails are better. The friends are becoming early advocates. The infrastructure is strengthening.

Hustling takes time

Everyone wants to move fast and have results "now." But patience and consistency beat speed every time (I've read this on a motivational IG post, must be true).

This isn't an excuse for slow progress. It's just acknowledging that building something real takes longer than building something flashy. The foundation work isn't sexy, but it's necessary.

I'm not trying to convince myself that slow is good. I'd rather have 10 calls booked and be overwhelmed with demand. But I can't manufacture urgency where it doesn't exist, and I can't sacrifice paying client work for theoretical opportunities (I got bills to pay, and whisky to drink).

What's next

Now that I have completed the sales deck, I'm shifting from passive to active outreach. Cold emails to startups that just raised seed rounds, messaging my network to share the deck in case they know someone. It's definitely easier to be confident in conversations when you have all the necessary tools ready.

The two calls next week will be the real test. Not just of the deck, but of the entire positioning and process I've been building. Fingers crossed. Honestly excited that there's a clear need in the market.

I'll document everything: what works, what doesn't, how prospects react to the transparent pricing, and whether the "story first" positioning resonates (it better, otherwise I'll have to v0.02 that deck).

Building in public means sharing the slow weeks along with the wins. I suspect it's more of the former. This is what hustling actually looks like. Not crushing it every day, but staying consistent even when the momentum feels elusive. Also, did I mention how much I hate hustle culture?!

Sometimes you write from your old apartment while handling admin shit. Sometimes that's exactly where the best insights come from. Sometimes you just need sleep.

(Still figuring this out as I go, but it feels like things are headed in the right direction)

Catch you in the next one.

-Max

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