Is your elevator pitch letting you down? The world is full of the “best” and “revolutionary” so how can you make your product or company cut through?

On today’s Inside Influence Podcast episode, we talk to the former chief evangelist at Apple and current chief evangelist for Canva Guy Kawasaki about how to be an evangelist for your product or company.

Guy shares stories from his journey as an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and tech evangelist with practical tips that founders, business owners, and employees can apply to their organisation.

Guy learnt from the best but has a passion to share his lessons with others wanting to get started. 

Today’s Guest: Guy Kawasaki

Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist of Canva and former chief evangelist at Apple. He is an executive fellow of the Haas School of Business (UC Berkeley), and an adjunct professor of the University of New South Wales. He is also a former trustee of the Wikimedia Foundation. 

Guy was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. He has a BA from Stanford University, an MBA from UCLA, and an honorary doctorate from Babson College.

After working for an education software company, his Stanford roommate got him a job at Apple in 1983. At Apple, he promoted Macintosh to software developers. He ended up working for Apple twice and turned Steve Jobs down for a third stint.

After leaving Apple (the first time), he started two software companies and VC firm Garage Technology Ventures.  

He has written fourteen books including Wise Guy, The Art of the Start 2.0, The Art of Social Media, and Enchantment. He is also a popular speaker on innovation, entrepreneurship, and product evangelism.

He hosts a podcast called “Remarkable People” where he interviews amazing people from all walks of life.

Website: https://guykawasaki.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guy

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GuyKawasaki

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guykawasaki/

“Everybody is using the same adjectives so if you want to position yourself as unique and valuable you have to really articulate why you are unique and valuable”.

“It’s not where you start but how fast you move”.

You will learn

• How to identify “solid-gold” products or people using the “Unique by Valuable” matrix
• That showing (i.e. a demo), is more powerful than telling someone about your product
• How to localise your product – personalising your pitch and marketing
• How to optimise your 30-second elevator pitch – mantras rather than mission statements (for a 3-minute pitch check out Julie’s Podcast with successful film director Brant Pinvidic)
• Whether your product is a “vitamin” or a “pain-killer”
• The ideal format for a pitch deck
• How to become an evangelist 
• What does “drawing on a bullseye last” means in terms of failure and success
• How to make an “ask”
• What the ultimate purpose of an organisation should be

References and links mentioned

• Canva
• Mac-Apple
• The history of Apple Macintosh
• Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell – 10,000-hour rule
• Mindset by Carol Dweck
• Jane Goodall
• Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth

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Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the Inside Influence Podcast! If the information in my conversations and interviews have helped you in your business journey, please head over to iTunes, subscribe to the show, and leave an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more amazing people just like you!

Also, don’t forget to hop on and download my new ebook The Influencer Code which is available on my website juliemasters.com.