We all know you can’t do it all yourself!

But why is it you can’t get the help you need when you need it?

Because you are asking for the right thing in the wrong way!

Does your pitch sound like this?

I can’t do it without your help. We need money to be able to do xyz. If we don’t get the money/help the program or business is going to fail and die. Please help us.

Those are cries of someone that is desperate and it doesn’t encourage anyone to join in or invest.

I have heard this pitches like this hundreds of times at talks I have given to educators but it also applies to start-ups looking for investment.

Sure it may be true, you need additional funding or resources to expand and add programs. That’s fine.

But, it has been my experience that people want to be share in other peoples success. Not the other way around.

So highlight your successes.

If you have made it this far you have achieved some level of success. To you it may seem small. Maybe, just a few kids here and there. Or some donations you secured that allowed you to set up a demonstration. Whatever it is, that is your ticket to getting help.

That along with your vision of what you aim to achieve.

Let me give you two separate pitches and lets see which one resonates with you.

First the desperate cry for help most educators drop on their administrators:
We have this idea and its great. It can make a real difference in kids lives but we don’t have space to run it and need money to buy all the supplies, and pay for a teacher to run it. We have a presentation about it that outlines all the stuff we don’t have and how much it will cost you to buy it for us. We can’t do it any other way. We need your money so we can do this or it just isn’t going to happen. Please help us. It’s for the kids ya know.

Now the right way:
We have been doing this and have helped x number of kids already. With the small budget and resources we already have we intend to keep on serving even more students and help them in even more ways. Then tell a story about the kids you have helped and the outcome of that effort. Get them to understand and truly believe you are already making a difference without their help and that you are going to continue to do so. Then invite them to come along and enjoy that success with you. Invite them to imagine how much more good you could do together. Remind them, you are going to do this with or without them, but they are welcome to come along and participate for a price.

Do you see the difference between the two pitches?

Frankly the first one is a turn off. It sounds like it’s going to be a hassle. Then what? They are gonna run out of money again and come back for more.

The second one sounds exciting! Its already achieving results and making an impact. They are going to do it with out me. I don’t want to miss out on being part of that and making a difference. They sound like an amazing group of people with vision and I want to be part of that.

Its a completely different pitch. Nothing has changed. You still have the same results and needs you originally had.

The message is just different.

I have seen this work for start up businesses as well. We have a prototype and are working on the production version that is going to change the world. If you partner with us we can get it to market sooner and make money faster while we change the world together.

So before you go back to your school administration team to ask for support, think about what successes you have achieved so far and craft a story that will have them begging to help.

Good luck! I know you can do it!

Don’t forget to share your successes on our Facebook page.

Go to www.MakerspaceBlueprint.com for more info or click the button below to schedule a free 1-hour consultation call now.