Farmer’s Insurance is currently running an ad campaign with professional golfer Rickie Fowler. In the ads, Rickie goes undercover and dresses up like a professional caddie. He offers tips, hits some shots, and reveals his true identity to unsuspecting golfers.
It’s fun. In addition to the ads, there’s a Q&A on the Farmer’s website. One of the questions is – What do you do to stay calm and collected during tense moments on the course?
Rickie’s response – “I try to manage my pace, my walking and breathing. I try to relax and take in the crowd and talk to my caddie. Once my caddie and I account for wind and yardage to the target, I go through my routine. I try to relax and hit the shot. One shot doesn’t make or break a round or tournament. I just keep moving forward.”
There’s a great lesson here for entrepreneurs pitching investors.
Manage pace and breathing.
Go through the routine.
Relax.
Then hit the shot.
In high stakes situations, you want to feel relaxed. The best way to do that is to manage your pace. One of the best ways to manage your pace is by focusing on your breathing. And one of the best ways to manage breathing is to have a routine so it’s second nature.
That means, like Rickie, you have to prepare and practice your pitch so when you get into the high stakes meeting, delivering it is second nature. All you have to do is manage your pace and breathing, go through your routine, relax, and then hit the shot.
By focusing on process, the rest takes care of itself.
A Pitch Tip From Rickie Fowler
Do you feel like you’re prepared to deliver your best pitch under pressure? If not, give me a shout and we’ll figure it out.
Be Brilliant!