How to Pitch a Great Idea by Debbie Ouellet (SEA alumnus)

You’ve got a great new idea. All you need is the right partner, distributor or investor. A common question I’m asked is, “How do you go about pitching it?”
 Get out and meet influential people. It's often one of the toughest things for entrepreneurs to warm up to, but over time, reaps the most rewards. You’d be surprised at some of the connections you'll make…connections that can lead to a face-to-face with a decision-maker.
People invest in you as much as they do your idea. Find yourself a champion or two who can introduce you to potential distributors or investors through networking or one-to-one meetings. Let them see your enthusiasm and commitment.
Having said that; you'll need to have a polished "elevator" pitch where you can explain the key benefits of your idea in about 60 seconds.
 As for your written documents, I usually suggest:
 A quick leave behind or "warm up" summary of your idea. It's usually one page. (Think of this like a sell-sheet, similar to an Executive Summary in a business plan...written so that it highlights the benefits to the partner, distributor or investor.) Include a second page that talks about you and your credentials. You’ll use these as the preamble to getting that all important face-to-face meeting.
Your full blown business proposal/plan. Present this to your serious prospects (usually at or after the first face-to-face). Remember that the point of it is to show them:

1. the feasibility of your idea
2. how they can make money with it
3. why you’re the perfect one to help them do it
4. how you plan to make it happen
5. demonstrated profitability and growth

 How about you? Do you have a great idea you’d like to pitch?

Thoughts on Successful People by Chris Widener

“I was hired to do some training for a sales team from one of the largest companies in America. There were 16 people on this team. This year their sales (for the 16 of them) will be $250 million—that's right, a quarter of a billion dollars! Needless to say, it was an excellent and fascinating time. I decided to learn a little bit myself so I watched them closely to see what kind of people they were and to see what common denominators they shared. Below is what I found. I think you will find the elements applicable to your own life.

The first thing I noticed about this successful sales team was that they had a sense of humor! They simply weren't a terribly serious bunch of people. Instead, they saw that life was to be enjoyed and that means they were able to laugh a little bit. Sure, there were varying levels in this but they all had a sense of humor. They were able to laugh at circumstances, and they were able to laugh at themselves. It was quite refreshing and a core element of their success, I'm sure.

The second thing I found out about this group was that they did not achieve their success through pedigree, but through hard work. They didn't come from families that gave them a free pass into the upper echelon of the corporate world and they didn't get a head start from upper-crust universities. What got them to where they are now? Hard work! That's right, another example that if you put your mind to it, work hard and get in the right situation, you can achieve great things! These folks work long hours and are disciplined in the work they do. And it is paying off.

The third thing I noticed about this team is that they are learners. They were always engaged in the learning process. During my sessions they were engaged and listening. You could see their minds processing the information. They were asking questions and applying the material to their work and their lives. They wanted to improve in any way that they could. It was also interesting to watch them in their team meetings led by their sales manager. They were very interactive and were learning from one another. None of them was above learning from a peer.

What did I see in these successful people? The same things that can make you a success as you apply the principles to your own life: A sense of humor, hard work, and a desire to learn at every turn.”