True evangelism comes from a product whose value is so obvious it feels like "good news." If you have to spend significant time articulating the value proposition, the product itself may not be evangelism-worthy. 90% of the evangelist's success is determined by the product itself.
Most speakers, especially executives, prioritize informing their audience. However, the true path to effective information transfer is through entertainment. An engaged, entertained audience is receptive to learning; a bored one is not. This is a principle even taught by Stanford professors like Phil Zimbardo.
Entrepreneurs mistakenly believe a pitch's purpose is to get funding on the spot. The real goal is far more modest: to stay in the game and advance to the next stage (due diligence). This reframes the pitch from a one-shot "shock and awe" campaign to a step in a longer process.
Instead of taking a long runway to build credibility before explaining your product (a "787 approach"), you must get airborne immediately. State who you are, your company, and the value it provides within the first 30 seconds, like a fighter jet launching from a carrier.
Continuously adding slides to address every new objection turns a concise pitch into a bloated "cargo jet" that covers everything but excites no one. Instead of incrementally patching the deck, absorb the feedback over 20-30 pitches and then start fresh to build a new, streamlined version.
The rule isn't just about readability; it's a test of the speaker's preparation. Using a large font prevents lengthy text, which proves you know your material deeply instead of relying on slides as a crutch. It ensures your presentation passes Nancy Duarte's "glance test."
Drawing on research from Carol Dweck and Mary Murphy, an individual's belief in their ability to grow is insufficient. For a growth mindset to be effective, it must exist within a supportive organizational culture. A fixed-mindset company will stifle even the most growth-oriented individual.