The Thrill of the Pitch

This week, we had a team travel to Wisconsin for a new business pitch, and it got me thinking a lot about my past experience with this infamous agency process.

Pitching is a lot of things, but glamorous is not one of them.

Saying that it’s hard work would be an understatement. Teams put in many, many hours preparing the presentation, and there never fails to be last-minute changes that need to be done, often into the wee hours of the night. Then, they have to rehearse — again and again — until they know they can nail it.

It’s not for the weak-at-heart, having a room full of people judging your work, your thoughts. But it’s exhilarating to look up and see nods and to get questions that lead to lively discussions.

I hate pitching, but I love pitching. It feeds my competitive soul and leaves me with sleepless nights. One thing I am sure of — the pitch will be around for many years, whether the industry likes it or not.