Keep 'Em Engaged - Pitch with Passion

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Recently, I was coaching women CEOs seeking to grow their businesses around pitching for funding.

When seeking capital, there’s a lot to prepare. You need to understand your market and be clear about how you’re going to make money—but at the core is your story.

Think about what problem you are solving, and the passion you had to start this business. At the same time, get to the root of what is driving you to act.

Go deep and get personal.

One CEO working on closing a round of funding revealed that she wasn’t comfortable talking about her personal life. But, once she DID open up and talk about the deeply-felt, highly-personal reasons she started her company—the entire room was completely captivated.  You could've heard a pin drop.

The passion was palpable.

But this was a volatile, emotional place, and she expressed understandable concern about “going there.”  I advised that she practice telling the story repeatedly. She would then be able to talk about her core beliefs within the context of her business plan without letting her emotions completely take over.  

This is the same advice given from an acting coach back in school when we reached an emotional place in a scene. “It’s great that you’re feeling emotional, but if the audience can’t hear your words, you’re not getting your message across, so slow down, breathe and keep rehearsing.”

When telling your story, tap into this important personal connection - the drive that moves you, but keep it within your control by practicing your delivery out loud.

You’ll touch the core of your audience’s hearts, and they won’t forget it.