Rescue Your Best Ideas from Rejection

I saw an expert ruin a great opportunity.

He had a smart idea to save money by cutting down on paying the same contractors for similar work. But instead of starting with the problem, he went straight into a lot of complicated details: charts, data, and a slide that was so packed with information it felt like a book.

After only 30 seconds, the team leader—the one person whose support really mattered—was already checking their email.

Why?

Because the expert didn’t talk about the one thing that mattered most to the team leader.

Now, compare that to a coworker who shared a similar idea the next week.

She walked into the room and showed a clear example of how work was overlapping. Then, she shared a brief story about how duplication of tasks was hurting the team's goals—the reason why the team leader was worried at night.

By the end of the pitch, the room wasn’t just listening—they were leaning in.

Two pitches. Same stakes. Different outcome.

The difference?

One talked about the audience’s priorities, not the presenter’s expertise.

I'm amazed that so many people think that their great ideas will be obvious to everyone when the truth is that even the best ideas need to connect with what the audience knows and understands.

Explaining ≠ connecting.

Here’s the reality:

Whether it’s words or pictures, producing great content isn't the same as creating understanding.

So, how can you tailor your pitch to win over your audience? Or, as I like to put it… save your idea from rejection?

There’s a framework for that!

S - Study your audience (Know who decides and why)
C - Customize your opening (Match their world)
O - Organize for impact (Build the right path)
P - Present evidence strategically (Prove what matters)
E - Evolve with feedback (Adjust in real-time)

Let’s get it

Instead of "Let me tell you about my solution and show you how it works"
Try "I've noticed this challenge in your department, and here's what it's costing you"

Connection precedes influence.

Instead of "Here's our technical architecture diagram"
Try "Here's how your workflow looks now vs. with our solution"

First impressions determine listening depth.

Instead of "Let me walk you through our 20-slide deck"
Try "Let's focus on the three areas that matter most to you"

Clear paths lead to faster decisions.

Instead of "Our market opportunity is huge - look at this complex chart"
Try "Here's how we can solve your $2M problem - as you can see here"

Relevant proof beats general potential.

Instead of "Let me finish my slides,"
Try "Would you like me to expand on this point or show you how it works?"

Flexible pitches find better paths to yes.

Instead of leading with environmental impact:

Study the Audience: Discovers the operations head's biggest concern is rising materials costs.

Customize Opening: "Our current packaging process wastes $300K annually in materials."

Organize for Impact: Builds from cost analysis to efficiency gains, with sustainability as a bonus benefit.

Present Evidence: Shows pilot test results from one production line: 40% cost reduction.

Evolve with Feedback: When the team raises implementation concerns, pivots to show a phased rollout plan.

Result: Project approved with full team buy-in and executive sponsorship.

When we invest as much in customizing our pitch as we do in creating our innovation, we don't just share ideas – we create advocates.

And in a world where great ideas often die from poor communication, that might be the most important skill an innovator can develop.

Thanks for reading. Be easy!
Girvin
(Stay curious, solve big problems, and have fun.)