The 3-Step Pitch Formula
When I first left teaching and started interviewing in corporate, I remember facing that classic “tell me about yourself” question. And just like that, I launched into my whole backstory. Job titles, degrees, achievements—all of it, poured out at once. I could see the interviewer’s eyes glazing over as I kept talking, and the more I said, the less engaged they seemed. I thought I was showing my value, but all I was really doing was overwhelming them with details.
In that moment, I learned a hard truth: people don’t want your life story—they want to know, in one clear sentence, what you can do for them.
Fast forward to a recent coaching session I had with a woman working on her own pitch. I asked her to “tell me about yourself,” and her answer was like déjà vu. She gave me every detail—her teaching experience, her philosophy, stories from the classroom. Her story had value, but it had no focus. And if you want to sell yourself, you need to be focused.
Her pitch wasn’t bad. It just wasn’t focused. So we worked together, zeroing in on the essentials. By the end of the hour, she was getting closer to a core message: "I help teachers build curriculum that meets the needs of all learners." It wasn’t polished yet, but she could already see the difference in how her message landed.
Progress isn’t about perfection; it’s about clarity—and that takes practice.
A great pitch isn’t a list of qualifications. It’s a clear, one-line snapshot that shows who you are, what you do, and the impact you bring. And getting there takes time, repetition, and ruthless editing.
By the end of our session, she wasn’t perfect, but she was closer. Each pass was sharper, and her confidence was growing. She left realizing that a dynamite pitch doesn’t happen by accident. It takes practice. And guess what the first question I’ll ask her in our next session will be?
Since that session, I’ve heard the same thing in my weekly conversations with others. A lack of focus is common. But the truth is, people don’t need to know everything you’ve done. They need to know what you do for them.
I’m sharing this because we all fall into the same trap—over-explaining. So here’s a quick framework to help you build your own dynamite one-liner:
Who you are – Start with your role or field, keep it simple.
What you do – State the value you bring, and be specific.
Your impact – Show the outcome of your work and why it matters.
For example: “I help students see their skills as personal brands to attract employers.”
Or for my client: “I help teachers build curriculum that meets the needs of all learners.”
If I had to sum it all up: Cut the fluff. Get to the point. And leave them wanting more.
