Pitch Unperfect
As a writer, my comfort zone is at a notepad or laptop where I can seamlessly get my words out. As a creative, I LOVE to tell stories and paint visual pictures of experiences and products through storytelling. And I can talk and share ideas with others in an informal setting all day long. But verbally presenting concepts in a structured, spotlighted way? Not my superpower.
Today, I went totally out of my comfort zone. I made a pitch. Granted, it was a practice pitch but no matter how many times I told myself it was just practice, it felt like the real deal… and afterward, I felt like a total failure. I was standing in front of professionals who are experts in their respective fields of healthcare, retail, investing, innovation, and more. Even though I’ve been working on this business concept for months and thinking about it nonstop, the act of pitching my business really unsettled me.
It wasn’t the setting. It was beautiful and comfortable. It wasn’t the people. They were awesome and gave insightful feedback on the content and information. In fact, my favorite part is the Q&A because I thrive on constructive feedback and philosophical challenges. Again, this was a practice pitch so nothing was even at stake…
For someone who consults with other businesses on their pitch decks, it’s quite frustrating.
So how in the hell was this practice pitch in front of a friendly audience intimidating to someone who usually has a calm, confident demeanor??
Because I care. I care about the problem we’re addressing. I care about remembering all the little details, every single stat, and every single story. I care about some of the big picture items that I’m still working out like market size, financial projections, and prototyping. My mind jumps from one thing to another and I lose my footing, and I begin doubting my ability to deliver information.
I could throw my hands up and say forget it. It’s too hard. I’m not the “right person” to be doing this. I’m a writer, not a presenter. But I’m not going to…because I care. And so, I remind myself that this is hard shit. I’m putting in the work and taking the feedback and pushing myself to do and learn things that I might never have done before. I think of Dhu Thompson’s words at the Governor’s Cup last week. Entrepreneurship isn’t about the destination. The ultimate destination is the journey of entrepreneurship**. And it’s one helluva ride that I’m grateful to be on.
For anyone else who struggles with the pitch- I see you, I hear you, I am you. We got this.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Prenger, Founder
**If anyone captured Dhu’s exact quote, please message me with that! I failed to write it down verbatim…
