Management Tip of the Day: Focus Your Business Pitch on Yourself, Not Your Plan

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   TIPS   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile MAY 21, 2013 Focus Your Business Pitch on Yourself, Not Your Plan Potential investors and partners are often more interested in an entrepreneur as a person than in the business plan. That document is important, but be sure to also show these three characteristics: Passion and purpose. Investors want to know if you're the right person for this idea. Make your personal connection to the business you're launching clear. Resilience. The road to building a business is full of speed bumps. Share some failure stories to show you can bounce back from challenges. Resource magnetism. Can you attract money, people, and other resources? This is more important than charisma. Whether or not you have a thousand-watt smile, you need to be able to persuade people to join your cause. Today's Management Tip was adapted from "Entrepreneurs: You're More Important Than Your Business Plan" by Rich Leimsider and Cheryl Dorsey. Read the full post and join the discussion » Share Today's Tip: FEATURED PRODUCT Breaking Out: How to Build Influence in a World of Competing Ideas HBR Press How do you gain influence for an idea? Idea developer and adviser John Butman shows how the methods of today's most popular "idea entrepreneurs" — including dog psychologist Cesar Millan, French lifestyle guru Mireille Guiliano, TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie, and many others — can help you take an idea public and build influence for it. Based on his own experience in advising content experts worldwide, Butman shows how the idea entrepreneur breaks out — by combining personal narrative with rich content, creating many forms of expression, developing real-world practices, and creating "respiration" around the idea such that other people can breathe it in and make it their own. If you have an idea and want to make a difference in your organization, build a change movement in your community, or improve the world in some way — this book will get you started on the journey to idea entrepreneurship. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Tip: PREVIOUS TIPS Write an Email That People Will Read Give Feedback That Crosses Cultures Stop Going to So Many Meetings Job Seekers: Focus on Achievements Use Your Crowd to Source Ideas Go After High-Quality Revenue The Right Way to Voice Your Complaint Improve Your Ability to Anticipate Crises Set an Email Quota and Stick to It Don't Listen to Customers — Observe Them All Previous Tips BEST SELLERS HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations Ebook + Video Case Study HBR's 10 Must Reads on Leadership HBR's 10 Must Reads on Managing Yourself HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done Introducing Mobile ManageMentor Powered by the proven content of Harvard ManageMentor™ iTunes >> Android >> UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "Management Tip of the Day" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2013 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)