An attempt to convince startup founders that an ability to communicate well, not just pitch, is the most important skill in business. Related blog post : http://talmont.com/pitching-is-like-tabasco-sauce/ Comments? Happy to converse @ralphtalmont

1. Hello, my name is Ralph Talmont
and I communicate for a living.
@ralphtalmont

2. Communication
is the single most important skill you need
in order to succeed as an entrepreneur.
@ralphtalmont

3. Good product, dynamic management,
financial prudence, visionary ideas,
good coffee, comfortable chairs...
@ralphtalmont
These are axiomatic. They are the baseline.
Your success actually depends
on your ability to communicate.

4. Public speaking is not the same
as speaking in public.
@ralphtalmont

5. Public speaking is a discipline
of communication which merely
uses the technology of speech.
@ralphtalmont

6. Pitching is to public speaking,
as tabasco is to hot curry sauce.
@ralphtalmont
“Just the essentials.”

7. We pitch for one of two reasons:
1. to get feedback and input
2. to attract people who can help
@ralphtalmont

8. Message
@ralphtalmont
Structure
Story

9. What is missing from your pitch,
will not be “filled in” by the listeners.
@ralphtalmont

10. Take them by the hand
and lead them down the path
you wish them to go
@ralphtalmont

11. 1. Write your pitch out in long form
2. Edit, craft, re-write and polish it
3. Bounce it off people who care to help
4. Re-edit, crystallise, focus
5. Practice it
6. Repeat.
@ralphtalmont

12. What doesn’t add to your pitch,
takes away from it.
@ralphtalmont

13. Slides make good friends.
@ralphtalmont
But they make enemies
much faster and a lot easier.

14. Presenting = design + content + performance
@ralphtalmont

15. Authenticity beats polish.
@ralphtalmont
Polish beats disorganisation.
Focus, practice, authenticity and polish
beat everything.

16. The 6 p’s of public speaking:
Proper preparation
prevents piss-poor performance
@ralphtalmont

17. Questions to be answered
before you are ready to pitch
properly, every time you do it...
@ralphtalmont

18. Q1 : Who is listening?
@ralphtalmont

19. Q2 : What do they want to hear?
@ralphtalmont

20. Q3 : Why would they even bother
stopping to listen to you?
@ralphtalmont

21. Q4 : What is the one thing you want
them to remember?
@ralphtalmont

22. Q5 : Why do you want them to remember it?
@ralphtalmont

23. Q6 : Who is the decision-maker in the room?
@ralphtalmont

24. Q7 : What is the one result you can feasibly
hope to achieve from this pitch?
@ralphtalmont

25. Slow down.
Breathe. (Yawn before a pitch.)
Focus on a few people in the audience.
Get personal.
Smile.
@ralphtalmont

26. Now, go get ‘em!
@ralphtalmont