How to build your 
pitch progression
Step by Step
[with example]
Your pitch is a progression of information
Attention span + interest
Amountofdetail
Initially it’s conceptual and visual
Attention span + interest
Amountofdetail
That’s because you only have 
8 seconds of undivided attention 
Split Second
Attention span + interest
Amountofdetail
It becomes detailed and logical
Attention span + interest
Amountofdetail
You can be specific when you’ve earned the
right to keep your audience’s attention
Convinced
Attention span + interest
Amountofdetail
Here’s how your pitch builds
Attention span + interest
Amountofdetail
Start by identifying the ONE THING you
want your audience to remember
(in 20 words or less)
Split Second
ONE	THING	
	
	
	
Attention span + interest
Amountofdetail
If you can’t summarize it – they can’t either
And they can’t pass it along to anyone else
Split Second
ONE	THING	
	
	
	
Attention span + interest
Amountofdetail
Then HOOK them with a:
-Visual
-Emotion
-Visualization
-Teaser
Split Second
 Curious
HOOK	
	
	
	
	
Attention span + interest
Amountofdetail
Split Second
Next BUILD on the hook 
-Concept
-Story
-Analogy
-Graphics
Curious
 Interested
BUILD	
	
	
	
	
	
Attention span + interest
Amountofdetail
These bring your
hook to life
Split Second
Then OVERCOME BIG OBJECTIONS 
Anticipate 1-2 big concerns related to the hook or concept 
and give 1-2 facts and figures to overcome them
Curious
 Interested
 Educated
OVERCOME	
OBJECTIONS	
	
	
	
	
	
	
Attention span + interest
Amountofdetail
Split Second
End with NEXT STEPS
Go into more detail
-Tell them next steps
-Answer questions in detail
-Ask them for help
Curious
 Interested
Next	Steps	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
Educated
 Convinced
Attention span + interest
Amountofdetail
Split Second
ONE	THING	
	
	
	
Curious
HOOK	
	
	
	
	
BUILD	
	
	
	
	
	
Interested
OVERCOME	
OBJECTIONS	
	
	
	
	
	
	
Next	Steps	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
Educated
 Convinced
Your pitch is a progression of information
Attention span + interest
Amountofdetail
Split Second
 Curious
 Interested
 Educated
 Convinced
ONE	THING	
I	want	my	
audience	to	
remember	
HOOK		
Them	with	a	
–Visual	
-Emo9on	
-Visualiza9on	
-Teaser	
BUILD		
on	the	hook	
Clarify	it	
-Example	
-Data	
-Analogy	
-Story	
OVERCOME	
OBJECTIONS	
Iden9fy	1-2		
Concerns	or	
objec9ons	
Give	each	
1-2	facts	or	
figures	to	
overcome	
them	
NEXT	STEPS	
-Tell	them	
what	to	do	
next	
-Answer	
Ques9ons	
-Be	more	
detailed	
-Get	
specific	
	
	
Attention span + interest
Amountofdetail
How to build your 
pitch progression
Step by Step
[Lesson 1 example]
I built Lesson 1 
using a progression

Take a look. Then go back
and look at the lesson
You only have 
8 seconds 
to capture attention
Here’s the ONE thing I want
my audience to remember
“WHY…
don’t they get it?!!”
Here’s how I’ll HOOK them
I’m going to say what my audience
thinks when they’re frustrated
Then BUILD on the hook
I’ll bring the hook to life by explaining
just how short attention spans are

You have a better chance
of engaging with a 
Goldfish
8 Seconds
 WHY don’t
they get it?
Better
chance with
a goldfish
ONE	THING	
	
	
	
HOOK	
	
	
	
	
BUILD	
	
	
	
	
	
Attention span + interest
Amountofdetail
My focus is: 
Attention Span
Split Second
 Curious
 Interested
Attention span + interest
Amountofdetail
Anticipate Objection 1
I think my audience will be skeptical and think

“How can I be MORE convincing
with LESS detail?”
Overcome objection 1
Give them data, examples and visuals

Use Concepts
Visuals
Emotions
Visualizations
Teasers
Anticipate Objection 2
Next I think my audience will want real proof 

“Hmmm that might be true…
Can you prove it?”
Overcome objection 2
Give them more data and examples they’ll trust

Examples you know +
Data you’ll trust
Movie trailer
“Brain Rules” by John Medina
Use concepts
You’ve seen concepts in action
“Brain Rules”
OVERCOME	
OBJECTIONS	
	
	
	
	
	
	
Attention span + interest
Amountofdetail
Use a 
few relevant 
facts/figures
Split Second
 Curious
 Interested
 Educated
Attention span + interest
Amountofdetail
Here are NEXT STEPS you can take
Go step by step on how they can apply the lesson
1.  Iden?fy	the	ONE	thing	
2.  Think	“instant”	and	
conceptual	
3.  You	can	use	storytelling	when	
they’re	engageed	
4.  You	can	be	more	technical	
when	theyre	fully	engaged	
What does this mean for
you and your pitch?
Next	Steps	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
Do these
things for
your pitch
Attention span + interest
Amountofdetail
Be more
specific
Split Second
 Curious
 Engaged
 Educated
Interested
 Convinced
Attention span + interest
Amountofdetail
Lesson	1	progression	
8 Seconds
 WHY don’t
they get it?
Better
chance with
a goldfish
ONE	THING	
	
	
	
HOOK	
	
	
	
	
BUILD	
	
	
	
	
	
Use concepts
You’ve seen it
in action
OVERCOME	
OBJECTIONS	
	
	
	
	
	
	
Next	Steps	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
Do these
things for
your pitch
Attention span + interest
Amountofdetail

Pitch progression example

  • 1.
    How to buildyour pitch progression Step by Step [with example]
  • 2.
    Your pitch isa progression of information Attention span + interest Amountofdetail
  • 3.
    Initially it’s conceptualand visual Attention span + interest Amountofdetail
  • 4.
    That’s because youonly have 8 seconds of undivided attention Split Second Attention span + interest Amountofdetail
  • 5.
    It becomes detailedand logical Attention span + interest Amountofdetail
  • 6.
    You can bespecific when you’ve earned the right to keep your audience’s attention Convinced Attention span + interest Amountofdetail
  • 7.
    Here’s how yourpitch builds Attention span + interest Amountofdetail
  • 8.
    Start by identifyingthe ONE THING you want your audience to remember (in 20 words or less) Split Second ONE THING Attention span + interest Amountofdetail
  • 9.
    If you can’tsummarize it – they can’t either And they can’t pass it along to anyone else Split Second ONE THING Attention span + interest Amountofdetail
  • 10.
    Then HOOK themwith a: -Visual -Emotion -Visualization -Teaser Split Second Curious HOOK Attention span + interest Amountofdetail
  • 11.
    Split Second Next BUILDon the hook -Concept -Story -Analogy -Graphics Curious Interested BUILD Attention span + interest Amountofdetail These bring your hook to life
  • 12.
    Split Second Then OVERCOMEBIG OBJECTIONS Anticipate 1-2 big concerns related to the hook or concept and give 1-2 facts and figures to overcome them Curious Interested Educated OVERCOME OBJECTIONS Attention span + interest Amountofdetail
  • 13.
    Split Second End withNEXT STEPS Go into more detail -Tell them next steps -Answer questions in detail -Ask them for help Curious Interested Next Steps Educated Convinced Attention span + interest Amountofdetail
  • 14.
    Split Second ONE THING Curious HOOK BUILD Interested OVERCOME OBJECTIONS Next Steps Educated Convinced Yourpitch is a progression of information Attention span + interest Amountofdetail
  • 15.
    Split Second Curious Interested Educated Convinced ONE THING I want my audience to remember HOOK Them with a –Visual -Emo9on -Visualiza9on -Teaser BUILD on the hook Clarify it -Example -Data -Analogy -Story OVERCOME OBJECTIONS Iden9fy 1-2 Concerns or objec9ons Give each 1-2 facts or figures to overcome them NEXT STEPS -Tell them what to do next -Answer Ques9ons -Be more detailed -Get specific Attention span + interest Amountofdetail
  • 16.
    How to buildyour pitch progression Step by Step [Lesson 1 example]
  • 17.
    I built Lesson1 using a progression Take a look. Then go back and look at the lesson
  • 18.
    You only have 8 seconds to capture attention Here’s the ONE thing I want my audience to remember
  • 19.
    “WHY… don’t they getit?!!” Here’s how I’ll HOOK them I’m going to say what my audience thinks when they’re frustrated
  • 20.
    Then BUILD onthe hook I’ll bring the hook to life by explaining just how short attention spans are You have a better chance of engaging with a Goldfish
  • 21.
    8 Seconds WHYdon’t they get it? Better chance with a goldfish ONE THING HOOK BUILD Attention span + interest Amountofdetail
  • 22.
    My focus is: Attention Span Split Second Curious Interested Attention span + interest Amountofdetail
  • 23.
    Anticipate Objection 1 Ithink my audience will be skeptical and think “How can I be MORE convincing with LESS detail?”
  • 24.
    Overcome objection 1 Givethem data, examples and visuals Use Concepts Visuals Emotions Visualizations Teasers
  • 25.
    Anticipate Objection 2 NextI think my audience will want real proof “Hmmm that might be true… Can you prove it?”
  • 26.
    Overcome objection 2 Givethem more data and examples they’ll trust Examples you know + Data you’ll trust Movie trailer “Brain Rules” by John Medina
  • 27.
    Use concepts You’ve seenconcepts in action “Brain Rules” OVERCOME OBJECTIONS Attention span + interest Amountofdetail
  • 28.
    Use a fewrelevant facts/figures Split Second Curious Interested Educated Attention span + interest Amountofdetail
  • 29.
    Here are NEXTSTEPS you can take Go step by step on how they can apply the lesson 1.  Iden?fy the ONE thing 2.  Think “instant” and conceptual 3.  You can use storytelling when they’re engageed 4.  You can be more technical when theyre fully engaged What does this mean for you and your pitch?
  • 30.
    Next Steps Do these things for yourpitch Attention span + interest Amountofdetail
  • 31.
    Be more specific Split Second Curious Engaged Educated Interested Convinced Attention span + interest Amountofdetail
  • 32.
    Lesson 1 progression 8 Seconds WHYdon’t they get it? Better chance with a goldfish ONE THING HOOK BUILD Use concepts You’ve seen it in action OVERCOME OBJECTIONS Next Steps Do these things for your pitch Attention span + interest Amountofdetail