How to Pitch As An Introvert?

Two things are long overdue:

1. A sincere apology from my side for not being active in this newsletter.
2. A heartfelt thanks to all those who stay connected with me over the DMs, emails, and calls!

See, when I started this newsletter, I thought that I would be able to take at least an hour of my week for you guys and share some of my learnings. But things change, right? In the last two years, CJ Digitals has acquired multiple clients, Satvic Foods has gone retail, Caesar'n Joey started dealing in B2B sectors, and my first film as a producer finally underwent post-production, where my team is busy with foley and sound mixing.

So, this 'Viraj Bolta Hai' that I started took a back seat, and even though I said that I would take more time for it, it did not come to that! I actually had to close all the work-related tabs in my system, draw back the curtain to get that morning whisper, and inform my team not to disturb me for at least an hour!

Understand this thing from my perspective -- I can write two newsletters per week, but what made all of you stay here till now is the authenticity that I bring and it won't be fair to you if I write anything, say anything, and do not mean it, right?

Anyway, you get what I am trying to say here! I am both apologetic and thankful! Hahah, something that would resonate well with Seneca and Aurelius' teaching!

So, that all brings me here today -- in front of my monitor screen, where I have just finished my first coffee of the day, have applied the ointment to the new tattoo so it won't itch, and started writing a newsletter or a helping guide for you all who likes to read.

Did you notice how subtly I talked about getting yet another tattoo? [Check my Instagram for the same]

I recently created a poll on LinkedIn where I asked your help in finalizing the next topic of the newsletter. We got 305 votes in that poll, out of which 40% of you wanted to know 'How to Pitch as an Introvert'. The second closest at 25% was 'How to Market Your Services?' -- if it was up to me, I would have written on 'Important Skills to Have,' but anything for you guys!

So ... How to Pitch as an Introvert?

Before I share a few handy tips? Can I share a real-life experience?

Two years back, around mid-June itself, I was with my best friend in a park where we were practicing for a theatrical play that he was directing. Since I had no involvement in the direction part, I was sitting in a corner and chatting with my friend, Kritika. Suddenly, I had an idea that I should start giving sessions to my LinkedIn community -- this was way before 'Viraj Bolta Hai ' happened -- this was way before I got 18K followers -- this was the time when I had 2400 followers here.

Kritika told me that this is a nice idea but do I have time for the same? I was like, let me see… let me manage!

A couple of days later, I shared a post here on LinkedIn stating how I intend to conduct a free writing session on the coming weekend. No one knew me back then and truth be told, I had no idea what I was supposed to discuss because to me (for me), writing is very natural -- it should come from within and it cannot be taught. It can only be advised! (you will understand the difference after you spend a decade with words).

Anyway, I posted on LinkedIn, and I got around 200+ positive responses.

Around 150 people submitted the Google form and agreed to participate in that first group session.

On the day of the session, I switched off my laptop and my phone and had my first panic attack in a long, long, long time!

I couldn't breathe! I couldn't walk! I couldn't utter a single word!

It rained heavily that day and there was a power outage as well. I was like, this is a God's sign that I should not be doing this! My class timing was 3 PM, and it was already 2 … I was panicking, hyper anxiety engulfed me, and my legs were shaking.

Understand that I don't have a public speaking phobia or anything! I am just an introvert, and it breaks my bones to come out of my comfort zone.

Thankfully, my company's HR and the person who handles the entire operations at Satvic were with me that day, and she told me, "Try it one time." And I was like, okay, let me try, and if in 2-3mins, I cannot control my anxiety, I will give some kind of an excuse and will end the session in haste, delete my LinkedIn forever, and will focus on my ventures.

It was almost 2:45 PM now I was like, damn! What am I going to discuss? What are they going to expect from me? I had no idea.

It was 3 PM now and 45 people joined my first Zoom session here on LinkedIn. I switched off the camera (I still cannot keep it on), I took Dumbledore's wand in my hand (people with hyper-anxiety would relate that we need something in our hand when we talk), and I started talking and walking in my room.

I talked for two hours straight, and those who attended that session later told me that this was the first time they had seen writing from this perspective.

The next day, 33 people joined. I talked for another two hours, and I have never looked back!

Over the last two years, I have mentored over 500 people. Some via direct calls. Some via group sessions or SEO sessions. Some via messages or anything, but I never stopped.

From a business point of view, LinkedIn sessions and calls gave me multiple inbound leads -- a few for CJ Digitals and hundreds for direct calls/sessions. My CA would kill me if I could share the exact earnings here, but you get the zest, right?

How did all this happen?

It happened because I knew that there was something in me worth sharing, and the moment I overcame my anxiety, things changed for me!

If I had not heard my heart back then and shared some excuse of not organizing the session, we all wouldn't be here today, haina? It took one small step and what stood in the way became my way!

So, if you are also facing the same anxiety because of your core nature and find it difficult to pitch to a client, then there are a couple of handy ways:

• Create a pitch for them and ask your friend to listen. Share it with them. If you don't have a friend who will understand all of this, then pitch me instead.
• Always start with a soft engagement. Try liking their posts or sharing their posts on your feed. Try adding thoughtful comments to their updates. I have seen how Ayushi Chaswal does that. Go and check her profile and learn the importance of valuable comments that she adds.
• When you finally get the courage to pitch, craft a strong opening where you can reference something specific about their business or recent activities. But don't oversell!
• All the moral science teachers used to say that practice would make you a better person! And damn, they were right! Keep on practicing!

You should remember that all it takes is that one iota of a moment where you decide to click on the X of your browser or Hit Enter! It is as simple and as difficult as that!?

And as I said, the last thing that you can do is drop me a message anytime you pitch! If I have the availability or some time in hand, I will quickly help you correct the pitch, and you can take it ahead! Just remember, guys, it's now or never! I can guide you and motivate you, but in the end, it has to be you who is going to pitch and talk about themselves!

I should be leaving now! Today is Sunday, but there are a few urgent submissions, and my senior writer will kill me if she finds out that I am here, talking to you all and not helping her with the submissions!

Until later.

Baw-Baw

- V