I remember the first time I tried reaching out cold on LinkedIn.

My palms were sweaty.

I re-read the message five times.

Then I deleted it.

Re-wrote it.

And hovered over “Send” for what felt like forever.

Why?

Because deep down, I was afraid of what it would say about me.

That I was desperate.

That I didn’t belong.

That I wasn’t good enough to just get picked on my own.

But here’s what I’ve learned after coaching hundreds of UX professionals—

That moment of hesitation?

It’s not just mine.

It’s yours too.

You say you want referrals.

You know networking is the fastest way into dream roles.

But when it’s time to hit “Send”?

You freeze.

And I get it.

We tell ourselves we don’t want to bug people.

That we’ll reach out after we tweak our portfolio.

That we just need a little more confidence.

But the truth is, you’re not avoiding people.

You’re avoiding the possibility of being seen… and rejected.

So instead, you stick to job boards.

Tweak your case studies.

Hope the next recruiter finally sees your potential.

But that strategy?

It’s safe.

And slow.

And mostly invisible.

The people getting hired aren’t waiting to be discovered.

They’re starting conversations.

They’re not pitching—they’re connecting.

They’re not selling—they’re showing up human, curious, and clear about what they want.

And here’s the kicker:

Every time you avoid outreach, you reinforce the belief that you’re not worth reaching out for.

You become the ghost of your own potential.

But when you show up consistently—one message at a time—

You build a reputation.

You earn trust.

You stay top-of-mind.

You don’t need to DM 100 people.

You just need to connect with one person this week who’s doing work you admire.

One person who might open a door.

Or point you to someone who can.

Or simply remind you that you’re not in this alone.

Because relationships—not resumes—get you in the room.

So here’s your challenge:

Will you keep waiting?

Or will you finally send the message that changes everything?

P.S. If you want the script, the system, and the exact moves that are helping UX professionals land 5–10 interviews without cold applying, I've 2 spots left for UX Careerpreneurs. DM me the word “UXCP” or reply to this email and I’ll send you the details. Doors close tomorrow.