Earn Your Leisure Podcast: "How to Perfect Your Elevator Pitch"

Hosts: Rashad Bilal & Troy Millings
Date: March 25, 2026
Guest (Pitch Coach): Name not stated
Episode Theme:
This episode dives deep into the art of crafting a compelling elevator pitch. The discussion is especially relevant for entrepreneurs preparing to present their ideas to investors at events like Invest Fest and beyond. The guest pitch coach walks listeners through essential steps and practical strategies, blending psychological preparation with tactical business advice.

Main Theme Overview

The episode is a hands-on guide for anyone preparing to present an elevator pitch—whether in competitions, to investors, or in networking settings. The guest explains the critical components of a successful pitch, common pitfalls to avoid, and concrete tips for practicing and managing stage anxiety.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Seven Steps to a Successful Elevator Pitch

(Starts at 03:24)

Step Breakdown:

• 1. Clear and Concise Message
  • "Who are you? What do you do? Who do you serve? What do you want the judges or investors to know?" (Pitch Coach, 03:38)
• 2. Articulate the Problem
  • "Make sure that you know the problem that you're trying to solve. Lots of times I've seen people come and pitch... and they really don't know." (Pitch Coach, 03:52)
• 3. Present the Solution
  • "What are you trying to solve? ... What's the solution? What are the vehicles to solve that problem?" (Pitch Coach, 04:13)
• 4. Know Your Market Stats
  • "A lot of people don't do their research on the industry stats..." (Pitch Coach, 04:28)
• 5. Identify Your Competitors
  • "I've seen people do pitches and we don't even know who your competitor is." (Pitch Coach, 04:34)
• 6. Effective Use of Visual Aids
  • "If there are going to be visual aids, make sure that your visual aids are not all over the place. Keep it clean, keep it fresh..." (Pitch Coach, 04:53)
• 7. Clear Call to Action and Knowing Your Numbers
  • "Be clear and concise and make sure that whatever the call to action is, that it is clear, it is realistic. I'm looking for $2 million. To do what with? What's the budget? What's the forecast? What's the numbers?" (Pitch Coach, 05:23)
  • "Most investors don't want to be married long term to something. We want to make sure that we understand... what's the return on investment? Do we get equity?" (Pitch Coach, 05:50)

2. Preparation Before the Pitch

(Starts at 07:01)

Key Preparation Methods:

• Practice, Practice, Practice
  • "Practice in the mirror, see yourself... See if the nerves are taking over, right? ...Practice in front of family and friends and peers, a mentor, a coach." (Pitch Coach, 07:24)
  • "Record yourself on video and watch yourself back with no judgment." (Pitch Coach, 07:32)
• Mindfulness & Visualization
  • "Walk through the pitch without you having to say something... How am I going to enter the stage? How am I going to intro myself? ...How am I going to leave?" (Pitch Coach, 07:41)
• Breathing Techniques
  • "One is the four, seven, eight: you breathe in for four counts, you hold for seven, you breathe out for eight... it triggers what we call the parasympathetic nervous system." (Pitch Coach, 08:10)
• Arrive Early and Familiarize Yourself
  • "Go to the venue, see what it looks like... visualize what it's going to look like. The audience that's going to be there..." (Pitch Coach, 08:45)
• Always Have a Backup
  • "One of the persons forgot their visuals and so they did a whole entire pitch... with no visuals whatsoever. Messed up their entire elevator pitch." (Pitch Coach, 09:10)
  • "Make sure you have something on a USB drive, Google Drive... so that your anxiety can actually decrease." (Pitch Coach, 09:27)

3. Handling Nerves vs. Anxiety

(Starts at 10:20)

• Healthy Nerves
  • "It's absolutely healthy to be nervous. I was nervous coming here because I've never met you guys in person..." (Pitch Coach, 10:37)
  • "There's something called good nerves. You just can't allow those nerves to take over and become your master." (Pitch Coach, 10:42)
• Difference between Nerves & Anxiety
  • "Anxiety... says, 'what if something happens and what do I need to do to prepare just in case.' There's something between wisdom and then allowing anxiety to take over." (Pitch Coach, 10:49)
  • "Wisdom says, 'let me have a backup.' That's not anxiety, that's just wisdom. But anxiety is like all of the intrusive thoughts going through your head... creating stories that literally don't even exist." (Pitch Coach, 11:00)
  • "Nerves is good, right? But you don't have to let it master you." (Pitch Coach, 11:26)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Clarity:

  • "Have a clear and concise message. Who are you? What do you do? Who do you serve?" (Pitch Coach, 03:38)

• On Visual Aids:

  • "If there are going to be visual aids, make sure your visual aids are not all over the place... Keep it clean, keep it fresh." (Pitch Coach, 04:53)

• On Preparation:

  • "Practice in the mirror... see if the nerves are taking over." (Pitch Coach, 07:24)
  • "Record yourself on video and watch yourself back with no judgment." (Pitch Coach, 07:32)
  • "Walk yourself through [the process] as you do mindfulness, but be in the environment as well." (Pitch Coach, 08:45)

• On Anxiety:

  • "Two things I've learned in life, guys. No one owes me anything. And never create a story. Anxiety is the culprit that helps people create stories that literally don't even exist." (Pitch Coach, 11:10)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• Seven Steps to Nailing Your Elevator Pitch: 03:29–06:46
• Practicing and Preparation Techniques: 07:01–10:20
• Managing Nerves vs. Anxiety: 10:20–11:34

Tone & Approach

The conversation remains authentic and motivational, with the guest coach offering a mix of tough love (“You need to know your numbers!”), practical wisdom, and empathy toward the anxiety that comes with public speaking and pitching.

Summary for Non-Listeners

This episode serves as an essential primer for entrepreneurs, creatives, or anyone seeking to improve their elevator pitch game. The guest pitch coach breaks down the craft into clear, actionable steps—from market research to visual design, from practicing with intention to handling nerves versus anxiety—with relatable stories and effective techniques for preparation. The advice is candid, practical, and underscores that success in pitching comes from clarity, preparation, and honest self-assessment.

For Reference:

Skip to 03:24 for pitch content, 07:01 for preparation tips, and 10:20 for handling nerves and anxiety.