Just back from pitching in London- more later, but here’s two things I learned from watching other people today:

  1. When you do a presentation, you can do all the preparation you want but it’s worthless unless you’re really passionate and your interested in what other people have to say. If your enthusiastic about whatever it is you’re saying it’ll  gloss over a multitude of sins.
  2. I’m as cynical, dry and ironic as the next Englishman, but sometimes I wish I could be as warm, polite and genuine as Americans. They have such a pleasant outlook on things, it reminds you that sometimes you need a break from English reserve and archness.
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4 responses to “Post pitch thoughts”

  1. Will Avatar

    Enthusiasm is key to winning people over, I definitely agree, be it interviews or pitches.
    Re: American outlook – I used to think the ‘happy all the time’ persona was a con. That was until I visited California, and was taken aback.
    Most Californians are like that ALL the time. It’s amazing.

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  2. Faris Avatar

    Totally agree – if only we could be dry, witty and enthusiastic at the same time!
    Is hard to pull off – In her book Watching the English the anthropologist Kate Fox says this is because the English mistrust people who seem to care too much or try too hard – she calls it The Importance of Not Being Earnest rule.
    More here: http://www.sirc.org/news/watching_the_english.shtml
    I think we need to get over that. Man.

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  3. Andrew Hovells Avatar

    That’s a good point about trying too hard. There’s no point trying to look interested if you’re not, or cool for that matter. The solution? Just make sure you’re presentation is interesting, if it bores the pants of you, what chance has it of connecting with your audience?

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