Follow Up Persistently: Pitching Ideas in the Face of Rejection

When you're out there, trying to gather buy-in for your idea, facing rejection after rejection, what's your breaking point? Or better yet, how do you pivot, adapt, and keep the motivation alive to push through? Find your unapologetic persistence voice.

Believing In Your Idea

Madison, a director of product in healthcare, was onto something big, a digital healthcare product she was convinced would be successful. Just when she was ready to charge forward with the product, there were big changes in her company that striped away the very resources she needed to bring her vision to life. Suddenly, it was an uphill battle, and doubts creeped in. Madison found herself pondering, "Is it time to throw in the towel and chase something else?"

Yet, she believed this product wasn’t just a nice-to-have; it was a must-have. It addressed a real need out there and delivering it could mean a big win. But her go-to allies in the company had all changed. This meant she needed to hit the reset button and sell them on her product’s value all over again, explaining how it was not just good for customers, but a potential success story for the company.

Persisting Through 19 Rejections

Restarting from zero was anything but fun. Convincing, reconvincing, and then some more. Madison found herself in endless loops of pitching, scavenging for whatever resources she could to keep the project afloat rather than letting it sink.

Through this relentless grind, Madison picked up a valuable lesson: every "no", "not now" or "maybe later" wasn’t a full stop; it was just a comma. She had to figure out the next move. This process had her in over 20 meetings across six months, each one a dialogue with senior leaders juggling their own many priorities and always pressed for time.

Every time Madison faced a new person she suspected wouldn't buy into her idea, nerves kicked in. Walking out of those meetings, she'd often feel a mix of depression and sadness, a shadow of defeat lingering after most encounters. Yet, she'd always tell herself, "I just have to keep going."

She'd always tell herself, "I just have to keep going."

Worrying About Coming Across As Self-Serving

There was this nagging thought that haunted her in these meetings, a worry that she might appear self-serving. "I wasn't asking for myself," she'd reflect. The goal was always the success of her team and organization, yet she feared the misconception that she was driven by a single, self-centered objective. Madison dreaded the thought of losing credibility and respect. This fear seemed all too real until feedback from trusted colleagues much later revealed the opposite.

If a meeting turned particularly tough, Madison sought feedback from those within whom she had forged good relationships, keen on understanding if she came off too strong or pushy. "I was aiming to be extremely respectful but also needed to move things forward." Often, the advice wasn't to overhaul her approach but to refine her pitch, a suggestion that did little to control her self-doubt.

Adapting, Not Quitting

Frustration built as traction was slow, and her confidence wavered with each pitch. While some leaders recognized the value and showed interest in discussing further, others were too caught up, unconvinced, or not interested, claiming, "This is not something we want to work on," or "This doesn't align with our objectives." The challenge then became communicating effectively with these senior leaders, reinforcing her belief in the product, and strengthening trust and credibility. Data supporting her pitch became her ally.

Madison never entertained the thought of giving up, even when time and attention from these leaders were hard to come by. "I have to figure out their objectives, the problems they're aiming to solve, and tailor my pitch accordingly," she determined. Her focus was on how she could be helpful to them and how the product could meet their needs.

Following Up With Updates

Madison had a plan: get onto the leaders' calendars through their admins and then nail her pitch. But it wasn’t enough. When faced with a "no" or "not now," she didn't lose heart. Instead, she focused on making incremental progress on her project, however slow and resource-strapped it might be. This way, she could circle back to those same leaders with solid updates a month later, keeping the momentum and gradually showcasing the value of her idea.

"I've got an update for you," she'd start, opting for a spin of positivity over dwelling on roadblocks. "We've faced 20 risks with this product, and we've already mitigated eight. Now, we're set to tackle the remaining twelve." This stance highlighted progress and demonstrated proactive problem-solving.

"I've got an update for you," she'd start, opting for a spin of positivity over dwelling on roadblocks. "We've faced 20 risks with this product, and we've already mitigated eight. Now, we're set to tackle the remaining twelve."

Asking For Resources Creatively In Every Meeting

In her meetings, Madison asked for specific resources and funding, but ran into walls due to resource constraints. Thinking on her feet, she asked for a portion of people's time, maybe 40% or 50%, to contribute to her project. After pitching, regardless of the response, she always laid out her next three steps, promising to return with updates.

She never had an elaborate end-to-end plan to secure buy-in and resources. It was all about relentless focus on the next step and continuous progress. Finally, her persistence paid off, and she secured the resources needed, though the journey was anything but easy.

Persistence Wins

When pitching your ideas, it's vital to understand where people are coming from, their competing priorities, and how your project aligns with their goals. If you believe in your idea, you've got to unapologetically be willing to advocate for it tirelessly. Persistence is key. Be clear about what you're asking for, seek feedback to refine your pitch, and don't hesitate to try again after a few weeks with fresh updates to stay in the game. Showcasing progress is a compelling reason to re-engage and re-pitch your idea.

Finding Your Unapologetic Persistent Voice

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