---
title: "Tim Ferriss cold-email template"
description: "A short email for approaching a busy person."
canonical: https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/the-third-door/tim-ferriss-cold-email-template/
updated: 2026-11-03
---

# Tim Ferriss cold-email template

> A short email for approaching a busy person.

Alex Banayan's framework, from The Third Door, pp. 39 to 68.

Framework 3 of 11 from [The Third Door](https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/the-third-door/index.md) by Alex Banayan. Category: Life and thinking.

## The steps

1. **Respect their time.** Say you know they are busy and that the email takes sixty seconds to read.
2. **Show credibility.** Add one or two lines that establish who you are.
3. **Ask one specific question.** Put the question in the email itself, and never ask to jump on the phone, get coffee or pick their brain.
4. **Give an easy out.** Say you understand if they are too busy, and that even a one or two line reply would help.

## Where it comes from

From chapter: Step 2: Run Down the Alley, pp. 39–68

## The animation

24 seconds, 4:5, no sound.

- MP4: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/the-third-door/tim-ferriss-cold-email-template.mp4
- MP4, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/the-third-door/tim-ferriss-cold-email-template-dark.mp4
- Still: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/the-third-door/tim-ferriss-cold-email-template.png
- Still, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/the-third-door/tim-ferriss-cold-email-template-dark.png