In the enchanting paradise of the Maldives, a place renowned for its tourism sector and rapidly developing economy- even the inhabitants here, particularly those immersed in the world of startups, have undoubtedly come across the recurring notion that certain qualities are indispensable for achieving success. These qualities include vision, passion, and confidence. Whether one is presenting a compelling case to a prospective investor, persuading a significant client, or even pursuing their dream job, it is widely believed that possessing an abundance of these three attributes significantly improves one’s chances of triumph, as per the prevailing wisdom.
According to Adam Grant, a renowned psychologist at Wharton, TED speaker, and bestselling author, the commonly held belief about pitching is completely flawed. Grant himself receives numerous pitches on a daily basis, and he often declines those that heavily rely on three specific elements while neglecting important factors such as data, seeking advice, and demonstrating a willingness to collaborate. In one of the episodes of his podcast WorkLife, Grant went so far as to invite a company founder who had pitched him, but ultimately faced rejection due to her overemphasis on these three elements. The founder, displaying both courage and wisdom, accepted the invitation, leading to a captivating conversation and valuable lessons that can benefit all of us when presenting our ideas, seeking investments, selling products, or even pursuing job opportunities.
The following are major lessons Jessica Holton, the co-founder of the online relationship counseling startup Ours, learned from her conversation with Grant which could be extremely useful for us Maldivian. Especially to the younger generation looking for jobs in the competitive job environment of Maldives.
- Don’t start by talking about your vision
- Preparation is more important than passion
- Don’t act like you have all the answers
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