You Were Our Second Choice

It’s the most common phrase in losing agency pitch debriefs.

“You were our second choice.”

And as someone who’s heard it more than a few times in the last 25 years, it’s friggin brutal!

That one sentence is the heartbreak hotel of business development. You were good—just not quite good enough. Not memorable enough. Not persuasive enough. Not trusted enough.

In a world where every agency business development pitch feels like a high-stakes talent show judged by time-starved, risk-averse decision-makers, being the runner-up means you’re walking off the stage empty-handed. Again.

But here’s the twist: it’s not about working harder. It’s about working smarter. Because the best pitch doesn’t always win. The most persuasive one does.

That’s why I created Life’s a Pitch.

It’s the antidote to finishing second. A playbook for turning your next agency pitch into a performance that earns the YES.

Because here’s the little secret great presenters won’t tell you: persuasion isn’t a dark art. It’s a science.

And not knowing that is why most agency pitches get it dead wrong.

They believe winning a pitch is about charisma, chemistry, or clever taglines. That helps. But it’s not enough. Real persuasion is rooted in psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral economics. And when you understand the invisible forces at play in every room, every call, every Zoom—you gain a real edge.

The Three Keys To Delivering Winning Agency Pitches

The Perception of Authority

Long before you open your mouth, your audience is sizing you up. Are you credible? Are you an expert? Should they trust what you say?

The most persuasive pitchers don’t wait to prove authority—they preload it. They design the room, the story, and the setup so the audience is already leaning in before word one. In Life’s a Pitch, I’ll show you the subtle cues that spark instant trust—and how to make them work for you.

The Architecture of Persuasion

Good stories entertain. Great stories move people.

There’s a structure to persuasion. A rhythm. When you know how to organize your message in a way that follows the brain’s natural decision-making process, people don’t just listen—they believe. This webinar unpacks that architecture so your ideas don’t just inform—they transform.

The Language of Influence

Words matter. But more importantly—which words, when, and how you use them matters more.

From neurolinguistic phrasing to power priming, we’ll explore the subtle tweaks that make your message more magnetic. Whether you’re writing an email or presenting a million-dollar proposal, mastering this language makes you impossible to ignore.

Now, you may be thinking: “This sounds great, but I’ve been doing pitches for years. I know what I’m doing.”

Maybe. But then that begs the question… why are you still reading?

If your agency keeps hearing “you were our second choice,” what if the problem isn’t the content, but the delivery?

What if you’re losing to less capable competitors simply because they’ve cracked the code on influence?

Life’s a Pitch is your invitation to level the playing field.

In just 20 minutes, you’ll learn the science-backed secrets top communicators use to own the room, earn the trust, and close the deal.

If you’re tired of losing by inches, of finishing strong but finishing second, then it’s time to flip the script.

Stop pitching. Start persuading.

Because second place doesn’t pay the bills.