Tim Ferriss cold email template, explained with an example

By Muhammad Hussain, Founder of PersonaSend Updated 8 October 2026

The Tim Ferriss cold email template is a short structure for getting a reply from someone who gets far more email than they can read. Ferriss described it to Alex Banayan, who was interviewing successful people for his book The Third Door, and Entrepreneur later published it. It opens by admitting the reader is busy and promising the email takes sixty seconds, gives one or two lines of credentials, asks one specific question, and closes by making it fine not to reply. It's built for asking advice, not for selling.

Source: Entrepreneur: How an 18-Year-Old Uncovered Tim Ferriss's Secret Cold Email Template

When to use it

You want advice or an answer from someone well known in your field: an author, a founder, a senior person at a large company, a researcher.
You can ask one specific question they could answer from their phone in a line or two.
You've read or used their work, so the answer isn't already in their book, podcast or FAQ.

The template

Subject line ideas

A 60-second question about [their work]
One question from a [your role] who uses [their work]
Question about [specific topic]

Dear [Name],

I know you're really busy and that you get a lot of emails, so this will only take sixty seconds to read.

[One or two lines on who you are and how you know their work, e.g. I run a two-person software company, and your chapter on pricing changed how we charge.]

[Your one specific question, e.g. When you raised prices for existing customers, how much notice did you give them?]

I totally understand if you're too busy to respond, but even a one- or two-line reply would really make my day.

[Your name]

Try it free in PersonaSend Use it in PersonaSend

Replace everything in [square brackets] before you send. In PersonaSend it opens as the "One question for a busy person" template.

Example

Subject: A 60-second question about Price It RightDear Mr. Okafor,

I know you're really busy and that you get a lot of emails, so this will only take sixty seconds to read.

I run Tallyfold, a two-person bookkeeping app for small cafes, and the chapter on annual plans in Price It Right changed how we charge.

My question: when you raised prices for existing customers, did you give them a month's notice, or longer?

I totally understand if you're too busy to respond, but even a one- or two-line reply would really make my day.

Priya Shah
Founder, Tallyfold

Made-up example: Priya, who runs a small software company, writing to the author of a book on pricing. The book is invented too. Names and businesses are made up.

Why it works

It names the reader's problem firstBusy people sort their email fast. Opening with "I know you're really busy" and a promise of sixty seconds shows this email respects their time, which is a reason to read the rest.
Credentials, not a life storyOne or two lines are enough to show you're a real person with a real reason to ask. What you do and how you know their work is plenty.
The question is in the emailFerriss's rule was never to ask someone to "jump on the phone", "get coffee" or let you "pick their brain". Putting the actual question in the email lets them answer it in the time it takes to read.
A gracious way outThe close says it's fine not to reply and that a line or two would be plenty. Ferriss called "Thanks in advance" annoying and entitled; this line does the opposite.

What to check before you send it

Read, watch or use what they've made, and check that your question isn't answered there.
See how they prefer to be contacted. Many busy people list a contact form, an assistant, or a note saying they can't reply to everyone.
Narrow your question until a two-line answer would really help you. "Any advice on pricing?" is too broad; "How much notice did you give?" isn't.

Follow-up email

Send it 10 days later if there's no reply, in the same thread.

Subject: Re: A 60-second question about [their work]Hi [Name],

Just resurfacing my question below in case it slipped past: [your question in one line]. A one-line answer would be plenty, and no worries if not.

[Your name]

Mistakes to avoid

Asking for a call, a coffee or to "pick their brain" instead of asking the question.
Exaggerating, with lines like "you'll love this" or "this is perfect for you". Ferriss singled these out.
Ending with "Thanks in advance", which assumes they've already agreed to help.
Sending several follow-ups. Ferriss's advice was not to email a lot, so one gentle nudge is the limit.
Using the template to sell. A pitch dressed up as a question breaks the promise of sixty seconds.

Writing to more than one busy person?

PersonaSend's AI writes each email for one reader, from what you know about them, so the credentials and the question fit that person. You read and approve every email before it's sent.

Start free with this template Open it in PersonaSend Or write one free with the cold email generator

Questions people ask

Where does the Tim Ferriss cold email template come from?

Tim Ferriss shared it with Alex Banayan, who was researching his book The Third Door. Entrepreneur published the template along with Ferriss's rules for emailing busy people, such as never asking to "pick their brain".

Can I copy his opening line word for word?

You can, and many people do, which is also why some readers will recognize it. What matters is the idea behind it: respect their time and say how little you need. Your own words work just as well.

Does the Tim Ferriss template work for sales emails?

Not as it is. It's built for asking a favor from someone who owes you nothing. For a sales email, keep its best habits, a short email and one clear question, but make the reason for writing about their business.

How long should the email be?

Short enough that the sixty-second promise is true. Read it aloud and time it; if it takes longer than a minute, cut until it doesn't.

Muhammad Hussain builds PersonaSend, an AI cold email tool for freelancers, agencies and small teams. These templates come from the structures PersonaSend's AI follows when it writes a personal email for each contact. The examples use made-up people and businesses. Corrections and questions are welcome on our contact page. LinkedIn GitHub