Almost anyone can come up with a great idea. Trust me, I’ve seen some of the dumbest people think up the most brilliant business endeavors. The problem though, is that many of these potential projects are missing a key element to have them see the light of day. A piece of the jigsaw puzzle that can only be provided by someone else. Someone with actual experience in “follow through” – being able to take an idea on paper and using their strengths to turn it into a tangible asset.
How do you get these people on board for your latest and greatest project?
Yes, anyone can come up with the best thing since sliced bread – but that’s only the start. Not just anyone can actually pitch this great idea to someone else and get them to take action. The key is to always negotiate from the other person’s point of view. As I like to call this process – treat them like they’re the most selfish person in the entire world!
1. Selfish people hate reading. They don’t care about how you came up with the idea. Maybe it appeared to you in a dream while unconscious after a snowboarding accident – it doesn’t matter to them. They don’t care about the who, what, where, when and why, but they do care about the how. How will this idea benefit them?
2. Selfish people love money. Really, they love this even more than their own self-centered selves. It doesn’t matter how brilliant, ingenious and innovative your project is… you can pitch them the cure for cancer – they won’t be interested unless it makes them a buck. Focus on their greed. How will this idea fatten their wallet?
3. Selfish people are lazy. They want to do the least work possible. None, if they can get away with it. These people don’t have time to dedicate hours upon hours of work or time even to remember your name. Offer to do all the heavy lifting with minimal support on their part. How will this idea require little of their time?
4. Selfish people want all the credit. Nothing entices them more than fame – getting the admiration of their peers for a brilliant initiative or a wildly successful venture . A front man figurehead position can help them to leverage it for even more lucrative future projects. How will this idea make them shine in the public eye?
The most important aspect of pitching an idea for a joint venture:
Why do they need YOU?
It’s a very simple question that many never grasp fully when approaching others with their latest and greatest idea… but this is the final piece of the puzzle that will make or break a proposal.
You’ve already covered the 4 principles of pitching to the most selfish person in the world: Simple elevator pitch. Makes them money. Minimal work. Name recognition. Ok, great! Now why can’t this person just do this project on his or her own?
Why are you the only person that can make this venture work fully and to fruition?
You need to find this angle, no matter what it is or how small it seems in the grand scheme of the project. Maybe you’ve got a connection to market this project that no one else does. Maybe you’re really skilled with an obscure programming language that would be helpful for it’s implementation. Maybe you make the greatest chocolate chip cookies in the world and will send a batch over! Really, it can be just about anything.
What do you bring to the table that the selfish person needs?
Next time you’re planning on submitting a proposal to someone, think of these concepts long and hard before making contact. Present it as if they’re the most selfish person in the world and combine it with a definitive reason why you’re uniquely beneficial to them. This will greatly improve your chances in getting a prospective partner to take action. If anything, even just a response back to you.
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