Comments on: Selling Your Idea: How to Give an Effective Pitch

By: Lee

Lee — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 23:33:40 +0000

Love this article; I think it’s full of great information to prepare an effective presentation. I’ve taken a lot of notes and valuable information away that I will certainly use. I would like to have added the remainder of this note for another story you referenced about “bookending your day” but the comment section was closed so I’ll make it here. I agree that solid and consistent planning helps to organize the multiple tasks we’re expected to complete in the course of a single day, week, month or even a year. However, I use bookending in a more fluid manner; although it changes often it still works very well. In the last two years I’ve successfully ran several marathons, half marathons and even a few other miscellaneous races that required 3:30-4:30am workouts…which I enjoyed. I’ve written my first book and am building a small business based around that book, all while being a stay-at-home dad…which I’ve enjoyed. For those who commented, be careful not to lift bookending to some “heroic” or bragging-rights status. It lives and breaths because you created it…it is not an entity of it’s own. The focus should be to match it to your own personality, desired outcome but mostly to enjoy the positive changes you experience as you do it. If it serves you spiritually, emotionally, physically and mentally, if it enhances the relationships you are building, if it makes you a better advocate in your community, a better Dad, a better Brother, a better Husband and Friend, then more power to you. So while you bookend your way to the top of the pyramid of personal success, be sure that it’s truly personal and remember to take good care of yourself (5 hours of sleep per night???) before someone else has to prematurely.

By: Raymond J. Repass

Raymond J. Repass — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:58:23 +0000

Great article guys!!! I am starting a blog for local men and will be approaching local businesses about ad space. The information in this article will be of great help, especially when scheduling. Something I would like to add is to keep a positive frame of mind and present your pitch with confidence. This shows your buyer that you are not worried about your idea failing and will help ease their concerns.

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:23:35 +0000

I’d also add: Attention To Detail.

(you’ve got two points numbered 9)

By: Russell

Russell — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:32:02 +0000

Great call on skipping PowerPoint. See http://www.edwardtufte.com on why PPT is such a poor means of communication. It literally makes you stupider.

By: StephanieB

StephanieB — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 03:19:09 +0000

Great post. I don’t have any experience in this department, but am looking to start my own business in the future, so I will need this info!

By: Kevin Daley

Kevin Daley — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 23:33:33 +0000

As a videogame developer (hobbyist so far), I’m not so experienced with this topic because the pitch is oftentimes simply a video with little accompanying explanation (that, and I’m the programmer)…but it’s great to have a nice primer!

What Brett seems to be saying is that drawing on the whiteboard is, like, a skill one must develop particularly for this. If you do it well enough, I doubt you absolutely need powerpoint to convey your idea. Which is true, but the one downside I see to this is that you can’t really draw evidence of success on a whiteboard…particularly important in tech-related fields.

By: Troy Cunio

Troy Cunio — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 20:07:50 +0000

I like the idea of foregoing powerpoint for something more fluid, but the trouble is that a good powerpoint looks neat and shows that you have taken time to prepare, whereas whiteboard drawings are harder to read, less attractive, and could seem spur of the moment, especially if your penmanship is terrible, like mine. Any suggestion on how to counteract these weaknesses in handwritten drawings?

By: Al Sledge

Al Sledge — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 10:26:40 +0000

One additional suggestion I would like to make. Leave something tangible with them. Years ago I my business partner and I went to a Colorado bank to see if we could borrow ten thousand dollars (one hundred thousand in today’s inflated currency). We brought in our paper business plan and a prototype circuit card that we wanted to produce in quantity. The circuit card had our corporate logo and name on it. We gave the business loan officer a pitch in four parts. Part one addressed the gap that currently existed. Part two was our solution to fill the gap. Part three was a short demo of how it worked. Part four was an overview of our business plan.

We left the business plan and the prototype circuit card. A week later the bank called us in for an early morning meeting with their loan board of five people. Our circuit card sat in the middle of the conference table. They discussed our business plan with us for a few minutes and asked a few questions, then announced their decision, which I felt they actually made before the meeting. We walked out of the bank with a one MILLION dollar line of credit! They felt we were undercapitalized and wanted us to not fail due to cash flow problems. No power point presentations were given as power point did not exist. We did however wear sport coats and ties.

The key I think was to explain how we could reduce THEIR risks and give them a return on THEIR investment. Banks are in business to make money too, basically self interest, but having something tangible in their hands that they had never seen before help immensely.

We never became another Microsoft or GE, but we made an honest profit, paying back the bank and employing several people. A few years later my wife left me, in large part because I worked seven days a week for twelve to sixteen hours a day. The saddest day of my life was when I had to lay off my staff and close the doors. Perhaps I focused on the wrong things in life? Now years later I’m on a roll again, this time as a trusted employee. At sixty five years old I’m considering another startup. Retire? Nah! Today is a new day!

By: rob

rob — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:22:56 +0000

Good article, an important piece that it does not cover however is that you are never off the clock, meaning that if the opportnity presents itself whether it be a chance meeting at a conference or on a street corner you need to be able to sell quickly and succintly, with often only nominal information about your audience.

Linda Bundrige is dead on the key is to have your elevator speach ready. By covering the need to know succintly you can pitch at any time, and most importantly turn a passing into either a full conversation or plant the seed of an idea.

By: Linda Brundage

Linda Brundage — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:15:45 +0000

Great article!
You also often hear of the “elevator pitch.” The elevator pitch is intended to be delivered in the amount of time it takes for an elevator ride (30 seconds to 2 minutes). Although you may have more time than that, it’s still a good concept to have in your “back pocket”. That way, if you’re asked to sum up your proposal in a few words, you’ve got it!

Imagine this: Your pitch goes really well. The person you’re pitching to likes what he’s heard so far, and he wants to bring in an upper level executive to hear your pitch. That executive is busy and wants only to hear the main points of your proposal. Give him your well-practiced “elevator pitch” and you will shine!

Thanks! Lindy
@mypinkoveralls