The Screenwriter's Approach to Pitching New Ideas

No need to always reinvent the wheel. Sometimes, sticking with the familiar is best. After all, we're not big fans of change.

Mixing the known and unknown eases the transition. Screenwriters have known this for years.

When pitching a script, they use comparisons, like "The Godfather meets The Matrix." They call it the "this-meets-that" approach.

Comparisons anchor ideas in reality, lowering the barrier to entry for listeners.

This approach works because it connects two successful concepts with the new idea being pitched. It sets expectations, making next steps easier.

Without comparison, we're left scratching our head trying to figure it out.

Unless an idea is obviously excellent, the this-meets-that approach is often better at conveying it, especially to those less imaginative or risk-taking.

The screenwriter's approach makes buy-in easier by linking our idea to proven success. It turns a giant leap into a small step.

So, ask yourself, what are you pitching that could benefit from this screenwriter's approach? If you have a product or service that's underperforming, confusing customers—or both—that might be a good place to start.