Many people have asked what prompted me to write WIN Without Competing! (www.winwithoutcompeting.com/) I think that the course of events that spark-plugged the idea will intrigue you. Hold on for the ride!
Package to Pitch
A few years ago, Borders sent me an email announcing that former president Jimmy Carter would be signing...
more »Many people have asked what prompted me to write WIN Without Competing! (www.winwithoutcompeting.com/) I think that the course of events that spark-plugged the idea will intrigue you. Hold on for the ride!
Package to Pitch
A few years ago, Borders sent me an email announcing that former president Jimmy Carter would be signing his book, Sharing Good Times. I decided to go. I had recently re-read Trump: The Art of the Deal and remembered what he had said about Jimmy Carter. At that moment, my whole body sprang into action. I would pitch Jimmy Carter to . . .
I packaged myself to pitch. This is what I did. I purchased an armful of books for Carter to sign. I figured that while he was signing, I would be "pitching." When I finally stood before him, I quickly made direct eye contact, smiled, and spoke:
"I am going to pull a 'Jimmy Carter.' President Carter, many years ago you asked Donald Trump for $5 million.
"Carter shot back, "He didn't give me one penny.
"Undaunted, I continued: "I need an introduction to Donald Trump."
"I don't know what I can do." Carter paused and then added, "He likes pretty girls . . ."
And how does Trump remember Carter's request? In Trump: The Art of the Deal, Trump recalls the event: Carter met with Trump to seek a contribution for the Carter Library. When Carter named a figure of $5 million, Trump was dumbfounded and didn't respond.
Trump said that the experience with Carter taught him the importance of having the nerve and guts to make a pitch for something extraordinary in order to get what you want. Trump felt that Carter's ability to speak up is what helped him get elected.
I was so pumped after I chatted with the former president that I decided to write a piece. The result? An editor who read the story asked me whether this was an idea for a book. I thought and said, "Yes, it is." Now you know how my meeting with Carter forged the way to writing WIN Without Competing!. The "right pitch" can unlock many career doors.
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