Improve Your Pitches*

*Adapted from my basketball blog. 

Shooting a few hoops in my driveway one Saturday. My phone rings, it says, "PUERTO RICO." I answer and it's Butch Lee (Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four in 1977) and NCAA Player of the Year. "Hi, it's Butch, just wanted to talk some basketball." Basketball travels. 

You're busy and you want daily ideas and solutions. Here's a 3-Minute Pitch for reading here inspired by Brant Pinvidic's The 3-Minute Rule. 

1. Give me three minutes a day. 

2. Readers matter because you 'spread the gospel' and sell your belief.

3. Simplicity and clarity define valuable messages. Keep it simple. 

4. Evaluate via this prism:

• What is it? - Daily basketball and leadership education
• How does it work? - Phil Jackson said, "basketball is sharing." That. 
• Are you sure? Show your receipts. 
• Can you do it? Read on. 

5. Is it a just a pebble into the pond or create ripples?

Analogies help us. It's not about the pebble; it's the ripples that can change the world. 

6. Share interesting and important information. 

• Clear blog philosophy - TIA, teamwork, improvement, accountability
• "Possessions and possession." Get more possessions and maximize each one. 
• Develop "possession enders," players who get scores and stops 
• Analytics matter - edges in shooting, turnovers, rebounds, free throws
• Graduates have become leaders in business, education, and more
• Blog ranked in the top 50 of Feedspot's basketball blog world rankings
• Of 25 middle school girls I coached (head coach), two have NCAA Division 1 scholarships. 

What about volleyball?

• Be a great teammate. Being a great teammate is a choice.
• The best players make everyone around them better. Those are reasons why people in the know recognized Leah Fowke's play and why Sabine Wenzel and others will matter so much in 2025. 
• Excellent teams WIN MORE POINTS. They win off serves, block-kills, and attacks. 
• Excel at fundamentals, the core skills - serve-serve receive, attack-block, set-pass-dig.
• Everything practiced should impact winning. 

7. Deliver a compelling opening. See above. 

8. When did you start to believe? A group of nobodies went 21-4 en route to the State Semifinals of the top basketball division in Massachusetts. 

9. Disappear the elephant in the room. Where are your receipts? 

10.What's your hook and your edge? Get players' attention. Sixth grade tryout. A little girl comes up to me, "Coach, I am really excited to be here." She understood the core value, "Nothing great is ever accomplished without enthusiasm." 

Lagniappe. Catch the MVB excitement.

 

Lagniappe 2. Chuck Daly said, "I'm a salesman." We all are. I sold healthier lifestyles as a physician. Here's the ChatGPT summary of "3-Minute Rule" 

Brant Pinvidic’s The 3-Minute Rule: Say Less to Get More from Any Pitch or Presentation focuses on simplifying your message to maximize impact. His core philosophy is: “Say less to get more.” The book offers a framework for creating concise, clear, and compelling pitches, with the idea that you should convey the essence of your idea or proposal in three minutes or less.

Key Concepts:

1. The 4 “WHAC” Questions:

   • What is it? Clearly define your idea or offering.
   • How does it work? Explain the mechanics in simple, accessible terms.
   • Are you sure? Prove the credibility of your idea with facts, logic, or data.
   • Can you do it? Demonstrate feasibility and your ability to execute.

2. Keep it Simple:

   • Avoid jargon, overexplaining, or overwhelming your audience with details.
   • Prioritize clarity over flashiness.

3. The Power of Storytelling:

   • Present your message in a logical, engaging sequence that keeps attention and builds curiosity.
   • Use emotional triggers strategically to connect with your audience.

4. The First Three Minutes Are Crucial:

   • People form opinions quickly, so the opening moments of a pitch should grab attention and provide a clear framework for understanding your idea.
   • The audience should leave with a clear takeaway, even if they don’t get all the details.

5. The “Information Hierarchy”:

   • Start with the most compelling and easy-to-digest information first.
   • Layer in supporting details as needed, only after the big-picture idea is clear.

Pinvidic provides numerous real-world examples and exercises to help readers refine their messaging. His approach is useful for entrepreneurs, coaches, and anyone needing to present ideas effectively, emphasizing that simplicity and structure lead to persuasion and results.