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Backable: The surprising truth behind what makes people take a chance on you
A groundbreaking book that boldly claims the key to success in business is not talent, connections, or ideas, but the ability to persuade people to take a chance on potential. 'The most successful people aren't just brilliant - they're backable' DAN PINK, bestselling author of Drive'Whether you want to get ahead inside a company or build a startup from the ground up, this fascinating book is a must-read.' REID HOFFMAN, co-founder of LinkedInNo one makes it alone. But there's a reason why some people can get investors or bosses to believe in them while others cannot. And that reason has little to do with experience, pedigree or a polished business plan. Backable people seem to have a hidden quality that inspires others to take action. We often chalk this up to natural talent or charisma . . . either you have 'it' or you don't. After getting rejected by every investor he pitched, Suneel Gupta had a burning could 'it' be learned? Drawing lessons from hundreds of the world's biggest thinkers, Suneel discovered how to pitch new ideas in a way that has raised millions of dollars, influenced large-scale change inside massive corporations, and even convinced his 8-year-old daughter to clean her room.Inside the book are long-held secrets from producers of Oscar-winning films, members of Congress, military leaders, culinary stars, venture capitalists, founders of unicorn-status startups, and executives at iconic companies like Lego, Method and Pixar. Suneel used these invaluable lessons to become the New York Stock Exchange's 'New Face of Innovation'. Backable reveals how the key to success is not charisma, connections, or even your CV, but rather your ability to persuade others to take a chance on you. This groundbreaking book will show you how.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 23, 2021
176 people are currently reading
3068 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
February 25, 2021
If you've had an idea that you thought was great, but you needed financial backing, this book is a blueprint of how to convince investors to support your idea. Written in straightforward and easy to relate to language, this book is really a must have for entrepreneurs.
April 6, 2025
Here's how to become that business person everyone gets behind:
1. Convince yourself first (by building a great offering)
2. Tell the business story from an individual's point of view
3. Arrive at an insight that you've earned by living it, or a secret you've discovered not many know
4. Understand FOMO -- make your buyers feel like they have not to miss out
5. Bring people in (to be co-creators) so they feel like owners too
6. Be willing to rehearse, test, and ask for feedback -- say, 'can I try my pitch on you?'
7. Let go of your ego
Great stuff.
1. Convince yourself first (by building a great offering)
2. Tell the business story from an individual's point of view
3. Arrive at an insight that you've earned by living it, or a secret you've discovered not many know
4. Understand FOMO -- make your buyers feel like they have not to miss out
5. Bring people in (to be co-creators) so they feel like owners too
6. Be willing to rehearse, test, and ask for feedback -- say, 'can I try my pitch on you?'
7. Let go of your ego
Great stuff.
June 28, 2022
Short, punchy, and to the point. Honestly a great example of how to write a good nonfiction book.
Good takeaways, reiterating how important narrative is in every aspect of communication.
1. Build conviction time
Let it cook
It’s about conviction not charisma.
2. Tell a story about a person
3. Find a shared secret
How did you get to this idea?
4. Make it feel inevitable
Let’s ride the wave together
5. Turn outsiders to insiders
Involve people in the process
The story of us. Why is this person specifically the person you want to work with? What do they do that you unequivocally need
6. Practice your pitch
21 practice rounds
10 rounds for competency
7. Let go of your ego
Make it about the larger purpose
You don’t have anything now, you’re not losing anything if people say no
Bias to action
Good takeaways, reiterating how important narrative is in every aspect of communication.
1. Build conviction time
Let it cook
It’s about conviction not charisma.
2. Tell a story about a person
3. Find a shared secret
How did you get to this idea?
4. Make it feel inevitable
Let’s ride the wave together
5. Turn outsiders to insiders
Involve people in the process
The story of us. Why is this person specifically the person you want to work with? What do they do that you unequivocally need
6. Practice your pitch
21 practice rounds
10 rounds for competency
7. Let go of your ego
Make it about the larger purpose
You don’t have anything now, you’re not losing anything if people say no
Bias to action
February 27, 2021
Honest, pithy, wise, and short. Sincerely among the best coaching books I could offer to the people in my life pursuing entrepreneurship in any capacity. The beauty is in it’s simplicity and tangible takeaways. I appreciate the author’s humility and willingness to expose the weak links in even a seemingly successful outcome for his startups. Pulling back that curtain demystifies “feast or famine” perceptions people have of entrepreneurial venture.
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with so many one-liners that I’ll be taking away. “It is much easier to prepare for a presentation than a discussion”; “how you get to an idea is just as important as the idea itself.”; We need more high integrity people who can sell a good idea".
It’s a great model for a coaching book. Concise, effective, modest, and actionable. Highly recommend for all young professionals and anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit.
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with so many one-liners that I’ll be taking away. “It is much easier to prepare for a presentation than a discussion”; “how you get to an idea is just as important as the idea itself.”; We need more high integrity people who can sell a good idea".
It’s a great model for a coaching book. Concise, effective, modest, and actionable. Highly recommend for all young professionals and anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit.
February 27, 2021
Loved every page of this book. The way he tells insider backstories and pulls together information reminds me of Malcolm Gladwell's style. While reading this book I cried over some stories and laughed out loud at others.
I would recommend this book as an essential read for anyone interviewing, reinventing themselves, or developing ideas. Great information and tips for teachers, students, coaches, screenwriters, public speakers, leaders, and salespeople.
I could see the next "Hidden Figures" female overcomes the odds movie coming from this book.
I can't wait to share one of the stories from this book at my team's next meeting.
My favorite thing was the fresh ideas. Gupta presented a really new take on things that I had never considered before. There are little jewels on every page.
My highest compliment to a book is if I want to recommend it to friends. Backable by Gupta, I highly recommend.
I would recommend this book as an essential read for anyone interviewing, reinventing themselves, or developing ideas. Great information and tips for teachers, students, coaches, screenwriters, public speakers, leaders, and salespeople.
I could see the next "Hidden Figures" female overcomes the odds movie coming from this book.
I can't wait to share one of the stories from this book at my team's next meeting.
My favorite thing was the fresh ideas. Gupta presented a really new take on things that I had never considered before. There are little jewels on every page.
My highest compliment to a book is if I want to recommend it to friends. Backable by Gupta, I highly recommend.
October 28, 2021
A series of anecdotes, presenting a list of tips for succeeding in investor pitch meetings.
The bad: This is about as anecdotal as you get. This is surprising for a Harvard professor (an academic?) and it's clear he's been in industry so long that he's mistaken focal correlation for actual causality. He uses a cookie-cutter framework of 'telling stories to emotionally connect to the reader', jumping from one anecdote to another without adding any evidence to support his often wild generalisations and conclusions. It's also not a coherent framework. For example: you're told to 'change your style' and take feedback seriously. You're also told 'it's okay that most don't like it. You're looking for the select few that do.' So, as an entrepreneur, facing down investors giving negative feedback, is it that they're just 'not my crowd' or is it that I'm 'not reinventing my style?' The book also uses the typical delivery mechanism of many self-help books of inventing catchy phrases that encapsulate his ideas and repeating them as if they're actual terms. Although this is fine in academia, for individual terms, providing the term has been sufficiently operationalised, it's gimmicky and unnecessary in the format of a phrase and feels like marketing hype piled on too high.
The good: despite its anecdotal nature and the lack of coherence, it's hard to disagree with what Gupta is saying. They really are solid tips. I found them quite inspirational, although I'll be honest, I'm not hosting any investor pitch meetings anytime soon (and, to be transparent, I didn't realise that was the point of the book before i started reading). So, despite the clichéd delivery and the lack of rigor or generalisability, it is worth a read, as some of the tips might inspire you in some way.
The bad: This is about as anecdotal as you get. This is surprising for a Harvard professor (an academic?) and it's clear he's been in industry so long that he's mistaken focal correlation for actual causality. He uses a cookie-cutter framework of 'telling stories to emotionally connect to the reader', jumping from one anecdote to another without adding any evidence to support his often wild generalisations and conclusions. It's also not a coherent framework. For example: you're told to 'change your style' and take feedback seriously. You're also told 'it's okay that most don't like it. You're looking for the select few that do.' So, as an entrepreneur, facing down investors giving negative feedback, is it that they're just 'not my crowd' or is it that I'm 'not reinventing my style?' The book also uses the typical delivery mechanism of many self-help books of inventing catchy phrases that encapsulate his ideas and repeating them as if they're actual terms. Although this is fine in academia, for individual terms, providing the term has been sufficiently operationalised, it's gimmicky and unnecessary in the format of a phrase and feels like marketing hype piled on too high.
The good: despite its anecdotal nature and the lack of coherence, it's hard to disagree with what Gupta is saying. They really are solid tips. I found them quite inspirational, although I'll be honest, I'm not hosting any investor pitch meetings anytime soon (and, to be transparent, I didn't realise that was the point of the book before i started reading). So, despite the clichéd delivery and the lack of rigor or generalisability, it is worth a read, as some of the tips might inspire you in some way.
February 27, 2021
I HIGHLY recommend this book not just for entrepreneurs, but anyone whose job is to earn trust, build consensus, or "sell" their ideas or vision (in other words, pretty much everyone).
There are so many great lessons in this book, many of which are counter-intuitive, and they're shared through great stories, empirical evidence and Suneel's own hard-fought lessons.
There are so many great lessons in this book, many of which are counter-intuitive, and they're shared through great stories, empirical evidence and Suneel's own hard-fought lessons.
March 23, 2021
Most business books could be a blog post and this is one of them. Valuable insights though
March 8, 2021
I finished the book in only a few days but felt I had taken away a clear understanding of the major and minor insights he was trying to share because of the brevity and storytelling. This book expressed a number of ideas I had thought about but couldn’t articulate in depth. On top of that it described what to do when you encounter those situations. One idea I felt resonated with me was the idea of an emotional runway. The author briefly described what I had been experiencing over a number of years in a few pages with clear tips on how to deal with it.
The book delves deeper into the seven main sections with more insights, advice, and entertaining storytelling well worth the time You will spend reading.
I highly recommend for entrepreneurs or any looking to give more validity to the ideas they plan to share with others. (There are great tips on public speaking as well)
The book delves deeper into the seven main sections with more insights, advice, and entertaining storytelling well worth the time You will spend reading.
I highly recommend for entrepreneurs or any looking to give more validity to the ideas they plan to share with others. (There are great tips on public speaking as well)
April 7, 2021
Suneel charms you with his charisma and takes you through his personal life journey...Stop. No, instead it gets a lot better. Suneel shares how to be convincing, how to fall in love with your project. Can someone teach you the science of how to fall in love? You bet Suneel knows how. When you start reading Backable, the “aha” gets you every chapter with your own personal echoes of “I remember how I failed to pitch to X” and yet he shows the way. Better he guides you to the journey of how to become the ideal you, how to become Backable. Is this book only applicable to venture funding and entrepreneurship? Hell no, how about being backable in your own life? Would you rather be the person whom others want to support in just about every walk of life or will you be extra in your on-life movie? That’s for you to decide, but if you choose to be backable - go read Backcable!
August 2, 2021
Este libro está genial y práctico, está orientado para emprendedores pero también para todas aquellas personas que tengan una idea y la quieran dar a conocer al mundo. El libro tiene 3 partes los pasos para ser backable, un resumen muy útil, y al final hay un apéndice de entrevistas a personas que el autor entrevistó para hacer el libro. Sí quieres dar a conocer una idea de manera efectiva debes leer este libro
July 16, 2021
Gupta explores the argument that success is not achieved simply based on charisma alone, but on having conviction and your ability to persuade others to take a chance on your potential. This book focuses mostly on the lens of pitching start ups to venture capitalists, but the concepts can be universally applied to other aspects of personal and professional life.
April 11, 2022
(I'm giving the five-star rating on this based on the first half of the book. Appendix 1 is a quick summary and then Appendix 2 are the highlights of the interviews from the book. I found the interviews very repetitive and a little boring.)
I really really liked this book. I'm at the perfect juncture to read this book. I'm currently in the process of raising capital for a startup and after 4 months of courting the ideal investor (including receiving terms, handshake, "let's get this done quickly" comments from the investor) I got the breakup call. I'm back to square one trying to raise this capital. Backable starts by walking through Suneel's own failures as a fundraiser...he was even pictured alongside a NY Times full-length article on failure. If you can come back from that, you can definitely write a book like this! While the meat of the book was short, I thought there were many nuggets that can help me as I tell the story of my company and get it off of the ground. I believe this book should be required reading for all start up CEOs looking to raise money.
Favorite quotes:
p. 23 - "You're much better off walking into a room with high conviction and low-production value than the other way around."
p. 25 - "Most investors arrive with questions, and if you proactively show you understand their principal concerns, you earn their attention for the rest of the pitch."
p. 30 - "The only way your energy stays high is if it's replenished by your own passion for the idea."
p. 67 - "We see FOMO play out everywhere. Once a founder has a lead investor, other investors want to join the round."
p. 77 - "When we pitch, we're not looking for just a backer; we're looking for an advocate."
p. 78 - "Bring the people you are counting on into your creative process so that they feel like co-owners of your idea."
p. 97 - "Backable people tend to practice their pitch extensively before walking into the room."
p, 100 - "Compelling presenters who seem to speak naturally and off the cuff are often the product of lots of practice rounds."
p. 123 - "Most people aren't going to like my idea, and that's okay, because what I really need are a few people to love it."
p. 130 - "The craziest ideas - the ones that are most likely to change the world - are often the hardest ones to sell."
I really really liked this book. I'm at the perfect juncture to read this book. I'm currently in the process of raising capital for a startup and after 4 months of courting the ideal investor (including receiving terms, handshake, "let's get this done quickly" comments from the investor) I got the breakup call. I'm back to square one trying to raise this capital. Backable starts by walking through Suneel's own failures as a fundraiser...he was even pictured alongside a NY Times full-length article on failure. If you can come back from that, you can definitely write a book like this! While the meat of the book was short, I thought there were many nuggets that can help me as I tell the story of my company and get it off of the ground. I believe this book should be required reading for all start up CEOs looking to raise money.
Favorite quotes:
p. 23 - "You're much better off walking into a room with high conviction and low-production value than the other way around."
p. 25 - "Most investors arrive with questions, and if you proactively show you understand their principal concerns, you earn their attention for the rest of the pitch."
p. 30 - "The only way your energy stays high is if it's replenished by your own passion for the idea."
p. 67 - "We see FOMO play out everywhere. Once a founder has a lead investor, other investors want to join the round."
p. 77 - "When we pitch, we're not looking for just a backer; we're looking for an advocate."
p. 78 - "Bring the people you are counting on into your creative process so that they feel like co-owners of your idea."
p. 97 - "Backable people tend to practice their pitch extensively before walking into the room."
p, 100 - "Compelling presenters who seem to speak naturally and off the cuff are often the product of lots of practice rounds."
p. 123 - "Most people aren't going to like my idea, and that's okay, because what I really need are a few people to love it."
p. 130 - "The craziest ideas - the ones that are most likely to change the world - are often the hardest ones to sell."
March 8, 2021
For my entire life, I've been a person with a billion ideas, and that's why I love being an entrepreneur and working alone. I can test ideas, analyze outcomes, and come back with more tests. What I've learned in the last year working at a company again is that collaboration on ideas can really make them take off. Unfortunately, I sometimes have a difficult time selling others on my ideas. That's why I had to pick up this book from Suneel Gupta. I had it on my calendar months before it came out and bought it on launch day.
I'm all about scientific testing and data analysis, but sometimes I just need a book that hypes me up with ideas and inspiring stories. That's exactly what this book is. Gupta has a great philosophy around what it takes to make your ideas backable, and although this will be beneficial for many startups looking for investors, I found a ton of value in it. As I read this book, I implemented a few of the strategies at my job and it actually worked. I was able to get people to back my ideas and take a chance on some things I wanted to try. This is a great book for anyone who has ideas and knows how beneficial collaboration is.
I'm all about scientific testing and data analysis, but sometimes I just need a book that hypes me up with ideas and inspiring stories. That's exactly what this book is. Gupta has a great philosophy around what it takes to make your ideas backable, and although this will be beneficial for many startups looking for investors, I found a ton of value in it. As I read this book, I implemented a few of the strategies at my job and it actually worked. I was able to get people to back my ideas and take a chance on some things I wanted to try. This is a great book for anyone who has ideas and knows how beneficial collaboration is.
May 12, 2021
** I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway, and my opinions are my own.
I am not a member of this book’s target audience because I do not have any plans to pursue entrepreneurship. However, the book offered lessons that will be applicable in more general life situations. I like Gupta’s narrative style and the way he tied in his own experiences without making the book only about him. He clearly did his research, and he provides engaging, real-life examples to support each of his tips to be “backable.” I highly recommend this book to future entrepreneurs or to anyone who will ever have to pitch themselves or their idea!
I am not a member of this book’s target audience because I do not have any plans to pursue entrepreneurship. However, the book offered lessons that will be applicable in more general life situations. I like Gupta’s narrative style and the way he tied in his own experiences without making the book only about him. He clearly did his research, and he provides engaging, real-life examples to support each of his tips to be “backable.” I highly recommend this book to future entrepreneurs or to anyone who will ever have to pitch themselves or their idea!
August 12, 2022
This book had a lot of good insight and practical tips on how to be more convincing and inspire others to bet on you. It did apply most of the tips to raising money as an entrepreneur. Of course, that’s because the story of the author is being an entrepreneur trying to raise money. But, if you are willing to do the translation work yourself, it’s gonna apply to a lot of other settings. And he had some truly insightful things to say, from the internal position you need to take to some counterintuitive ways to get a room involved in your presentation. Worth reading for anyone who gives presentations.
March 8, 2021
I received a free copy of this book via Goodreads’ First Reads program. Entrepreneurial types will probably gain the most from this read, as it is largely geared towards how to deliver an effective pitch and get people to buy into your idea. The vignettes gleaned from various interviews were fairly interesting. I was not expecting the book to end where it did- it felt a bit abrupt and sudden. I would have liked to see something a bit more substantial and fleshed out. This read a bit more like it could have been an expanded blog series or magazine articles.
May 27, 2022
Took a chance on it at Barnes & Noble. I almost never read books like this, but I enjoyed it. As he says toward the end, you don't need everyone to like your idea/art/pitch/book, you need a few people who love it. I'm probably not the right person to judge whether his advice was good or not, but it all sounded solid to me. My key takeaways: practice my pitches (exhibition matches), stop talking and start writing (live in the now), and ignore the Yankee caps and play house music (I don't know what house music is, but I got the point).
August 18, 2022
This was one of my favorite books this year. More than getting someone to fund an idea, it is about taking risks, owning your craft and connecting your ideas to make them personal rather than abstract.
March 15, 2021
Very inspiring. Some of the context can be applied to many other professionals besides those seeking backing from venture capitalists.
December 27, 2022
Great advice on how to pitch a business (internal and/or external). Very short, perhaps to the point of incompleteness, but good advice worth reviewing, anyway.
January 23, 2025
I’m actually utilizing some of the teachings in this book. That’s the best review I can think of…
January 17, 2023
Almost passed on this book because of the title. Glad I didn’t. Really useful pitch ideas throughout.
June 14, 2024
Seven steps for creating backable pitches, and a bunch of extracts from Gupta’s interviews. Probably useful for anything from bank managers to in-laws to venture capitalists.
August 11, 2025
This morning, I finished Backable: The Surprising Truth Behind What Makes People Take a Chance on You by Suneel Gupta. Gupta is an American entrepreneur who serves on the faculty at Harvard University, where he teaches students how to be Backable. The book was written in 2021.
An interesting anecdote about Gupta was how the New York Times did a full-length story on failure with his face at the top of the piece. If you googled "failure" at the time, one of your top results would be that full-length Times article featuring him. It was so bad that his mum called his wife and asked them to move back home if this 'entrepreneurship' thing was not working. He became the poster child for defeat. His inbox was jammed with consolation messages. Even when he refused to move back home, his parents offered to help pay his rent for that month. Old law school professors reached out to him to help him find a real job. Friends he hadn't spoken to in years offered words of sympathy.
According to him, that experience spurred him to ditch the fake-it-till-you-make-it attitude of success. In fact, he used the article as a way to turn the situation around. He began emailing highly successful people, using the Times article to break the ice. He'd write things like, "As you can see from the article below, I don't know what I'm doing. Would you be willing to grab coffee and give me some advice?" Fast forward a few years later, and Gupta went from being the face of failure for the New York Times to being the "New Face of Innovation" for the New York Stock Exchange and selling his startup for nearly $20 million dollars two years after its launch. His ideas have been backed by firms like Greylock and Google Ventures, and he has invested in startups including Airbnb, Calm, and SpaceX.
This 256-page book is the culmination of the lessons he has learned from pitching his ideas to investors, coaching entrepreneurs to pitch to investors, and being an investor watching entrepreneurs pitch ideas to him.
The most successful people aren't just brilliant…they're backable. Being backable isn't just for celebrities and CEOs. It's a required skill for anyone who is trying to make it in the world. How do you make others go out of their way to support you in your idea or business, whether in cash or kind? Gupta attempts to answer this question in seven steps he teaches to those interested in being backable in hospitals, companies, charities, and studios. He joined the faculty at Harvard University to teach students how to launch backable careers.
Being able to convince others to back you can be a matter of life and death. For instance, the morning the space shuttle Challenger was launched by NASA, Bob Ebeling pounded his car's steering wheel and, with tears in his eyes, said, "Everyone's going to die." The day before, Ebeling had sounded the alarm that the cold temperature expected overnight would stiffen the rubber O-ring seals, causing them to malfunction. He assembled the data, called a meeting, and attempted to persuade his colleagues to delay the launch. It didn't work. Seventy-three seconds after takeoff, the shuttle disintegrated, killing all aboard, even crew members, including Christa McAuliffe, who would have been the first teacher to travel to space. Ebeling spent the rest of his life blaming himself for his inability to convince the people in that room. Before his death, he told NPR, "I think that's one of the mistakes God made. He shouldn't have picked me for that job."
Had he been able to convince the crew, their lives would have been saved. While some people are natural salesmen, Gupta shows in his book that others like us can follow certain steps to improve our chances. And the first thing he recommends is, Convince Yourself. Peter Chernin, the Oscar-nominated producer of The Greatest Showman said that when he's undecided on whether to back an idea, he'll sometimes look at the filmmaker or entrepreneur and say, 'That's the stupidest idea I've ever heard.' Then he'll wait to see if they back down or show conviction." Too many of us try to convince others about our ideas without taking time to convince ourselves. As the reader will see in the sub-steps of this first step, the best way to have people back you is to take time to build conviction in your new idea.
One of the things that surprised me was when...
Read full review on Medium - https://tosinadeoti.medium.com/book-r...
An interesting anecdote about Gupta was how the New York Times did a full-length story on failure with his face at the top of the piece. If you googled "failure" at the time, one of your top results would be that full-length Times article featuring him. It was so bad that his mum called his wife and asked them to move back home if this 'entrepreneurship' thing was not working. He became the poster child for defeat. His inbox was jammed with consolation messages. Even when he refused to move back home, his parents offered to help pay his rent for that month. Old law school professors reached out to him to help him find a real job. Friends he hadn't spoken to in years offered words of sympathy.
According to him, that experience spurred him to ditch the fake-it-till-you-make-it attitude of success. In fact, he used the article as a way to turn the situation around. He began emailing highly successful people, using the Times article to break the ice. He'd write things like, "As you can see from the article below, I don't know what I'm doing. Would you be willing to grab coffee and give me some advice?" Fast forward a few years later, and Gupta went from being the face of failure for the New York Times to being the "New Face of Innovation" for the New York Stock Exchange and selling his startup for nearly $20 million dollars two years after its launch. His ideas have been backed by firms like Greylock and Google Ventures, and he has invested in startups including Airbnb, Calm, and SpaceX.
This 256-page book is the culmination of the lessons he has learned from pitching his ideas to investors, coaching entrepreneurs to pitch to investors, and being an investor watching entrepreneurs pitch ideas to him.
The most successful people aren't just brilliant…they're backable. Being backable isn't just for celebrities and CEOs. It's a required skill for anyone who is trying to make it in the world. How do you make others go out of their way to support you in your idea or business, whether in cash or kind? Gupta attempts to answer this question in seven steps he teaches to those interested in being backable in hospitals, companies, charities, and studios. He joined the faculty at Harvard University to teach students how to launch backable careers.
Being able to convince others to back you can be a matter of life and death. For instance, the morning the space shuttle Challenger was launched by NASA, Bob Ebeling pounded his car's steering wheel and, with tears in his eyes, said, "Everyone's going to die." The day before, Ebeling had sounded the alarm that the cold temperature expected overnight would stiffen the rubber O-ring seals, causing them to malfunction. He assembled the data, called a meeting, and attempted to persuade his colleagues to delay the launch. It didn't work. Seventy-three seconds after takeoff, the shuttle disintegrated, killing all aboard, even crew members, including Christa McAuliffe, who would have been the first teacher to travel to space. Ebeling spent the rest of his life blaming himself for his inability to convince the people in that room. Before his death, he told NPR, "I think that's one of the mistakes God made. He shouldn't have picked me for that job."
Had he been able to convince the crew, their lives would have been saved. While some people are natural salesmen, Gupta shows in his book that others like us can follow certain steps to improve our chances. And the first thing he recommends is, Convince Yourself. Peter Chernin, the Oscar-nominated producer of The Greatest Showman said that when he's undecided on whether to back an idea, he'll sometimes look at the filmmaker or entrepreneur and say, 'That's the stupidest idea I've ever heard.' Then he'll wait to see if they back down or show conviction." Too many of us try to convince others about our ideas without taking time to convince ourselves. As the reader will see in the sub-steps of this first step, the best way to have people back you is to take time to build conviction in your new idea.
One of the things that surprised me was when...
Read full review on Medium - https://tosinadeoti.medium.com/book-r...
January 18, 2023
A 101 book on selling yourself. For anyone who has come from a sales background (especially enterprise sales), this should be par for the course. Feels too succinct at the end.
In summary:
1. Schedule incubation time to solidify your idea so you’re fully bought in yourself
2. Steer into objections to get ahead of criticisms
3. Throw away work is part of the process, not a waste of time
- Consider your emotional runway: does it fit you:
- Cast a central character: use storyboarding, stay focussed on them
- Find an earned secret: a hidden insight learned through first hand experience (not a quick google search)
- intoxicate them with effort
4. Make it feel inevitable.
- A hackable pitch communicates that an idea is inevitable not just new (eg Airbnb showed how the world was already hidden in the direction of home sharing, Comcast sold on xfinity mobile ) and that you’ve already made progress (bonobos early sales selling pants out of car).
5. Flip outsiders to insiders:
- include insiders in creative process. Decisions that affect your career happen when you’re not in the room: need a backer. Show them why you’ll succeed together. When a backer says no find out why they passed and when they return share how you’ll specifically address their concerns.
6. Play exhibition matches: use low stakes practice sessions to prepare for high stakes meetings. Practice as if it’s the actual pitch.
- Be willing to be embarrassed, and open to negative feedback: “please explain the concept back to me in your own words”.
- Surround yourself with small group of trusted people who play different roles like “cheddar, poking holes”.
- The rule of 21: anticipate something will go wrong during pitch but be confident you’ve done enough practice to recover well.
- Reboot your style.
7. Let go of your ego
- show don’t tell
- shift from preso mode to huddle mode
- forget yourself when you feel the spotlight on you: you’re not representing yourself you’re an advocate for your customer
- find the passionate few who believe in who you are and what you’re trying to create. There’s always another backer out there
In summary:
1. Schedule incubation time to solidify your idea so you’re fully bought in yourself
2. Steer into objections to get ahead of criticisms
3. Throw away work is part of the process, not a waste of time
- Consider your emotional runway: does it fit you:
- Cast a central character: use storyboarding, stay focussed on them
- Find an earned secret: a hidden insight learned through first hand experience (not a quick google search)
- intoxicate them with effort
4. Make it feel inevitable.
- A hackable pitch communicates that an idea is inevitable not just new (eg Airbnb showed how the world was already hidden in the direction of home sharing, Comcast sold on xfinity mobile ) and that you’ve already made progress (bonobos early sales selling pants out of car).
5. Flip outsiders to insiders:
- include insiders in creative process. Decisions that affect your career happen when you’re not in the room: need a backer. Show them why you’ll succeed together. When a backer says no find out why they passed and when they return share how you’ll specifically address their concerns.
6. Play exhibition matches: use low stakes practice sessions to prepare for high stakes meetings. Practice as if it’s the actual pitch.
- Be willing to be embarrassed, and open to negative feedback: “please explain the concept back to me in your own words”.
- Surround yourself with small group of trusted people who play different roles like “cheddar, poking holes”.
- The rule of 21: anticipate something will go wrong during pitch but be confident you’ve done enough practice to recover well.
- Reboot your style.
7. Let go of your ego
- show don’t tell
- shift from preso mode to huddle mode
- forget yourself when you feel the spotlight on you: you’re not representing yourself you’re an advocate for your customer
- find the passionate few who believe in who you are and what you’re trying to create. There’s always another backer out there
April 11, 2023
Backable is particularly helpful for technology professionals, as Gupta draws from his experiences in the tech industry and shares stories from Silicon Valley's top CEOs and entrepreneurs.
The book is refreshingly direct and to the point, making it an efficient and engaging read. Gupta's writing style is relatable, and his use of real-world examples makes the content easily digestible and applicable to various professional contexts.
Key Takeaways:
* The Backable Mindset: Having a backable mindset means being open to feedback, adaptable, and able to take constructive criticism without letting it deflate your passion or motivation.
* Conviction: Demonstrating genuine belief and passion for your idea is crucial for attracting backers. A strong sense of conviction helps others see the potential and rally behind your idea.
* Flipping Outsiders into Insiders: Make others feel like they are a part of your journey by sharing your thought process, challenges, and aspirations. This creates a sense of ownership and investment in your success.
* Crafting a Compelling Story: A well-told story can create an emotional connection with your audience and make your idea more memorable. Use vivid examples and personal anecdotes to illustrate the impact and potential of your idea.
* Preparation and Rehearsal: Being well-prepared for a pitch or presentation not only boosts your confidence but also ensures that you can articulate your ideas clearly and effectively.
* Find Your 'Heat': Identify the unique aspects of your idea that set it apart from others and make it more attractive to potential backers.
* Building a Diverse Support Network: Cultivate relationships with a wide range of people who can offer different perspectives, experiences, and resources to help you refine and strengthen your idea.
The book is refreshingly direct and to the point, making it an efficient and engaging read. Gupta's writing style is relatable, and his use of real-world examples makes the content easily digestible and applicable to various professional contexts.
Key Takeaways:
* The Backable Mindset: Having a backable mindset means being open to feedback, adaptable, and able to take constructive criticism without letting it deflate your passion or motivation.
* Conviction: Demonstrating genuine belief and passion for your idea is crucial for attracting backers. A strong sense of conviction helps others see the potential and rally behind your idea.
* Flipping Outsiders into Insiders: Make others feel like they are a part of your journey by sharing your thought process, challenges, and aspirations. This creates a sense of ownership and investment in your success.
* Crafting a Compelling Story: A well-told story can create an emotional connection with your audience and make your idea more memorable. Use vivid examples and personal anecdotes to illustrate the impact and potential of your idea.
* Preparation and Rehearsal: Being well-prepared for a pitch or presentation not only boosts your confidence but also ensures that you can articulate your ideas clearly and effectively.
* Find Your 'Heat': Identify the unique aspects of your idea that set it apart from others and make it more attractive to potential backers.
* Building a Diverse Support Network: Cultivate relationships with a wide range of people who can offer different perspectives, experiences, and resources to help you refine and strengthen your idea.
September 14, 2021
This is story of a guy who failed forward big and hard.
What my 👂 heard ⤵️
years of learning went into this book
as you can see from the picture below I don't know what I'm doing would you be willing to grab coffee and give me some advice?
we all know how it feels to be unseen or ignored
if you don't truly believe in what you're saying there is no slide fancy enough no hand gesture compelling enough to save you
what moves people isn't charisma but conviction
if you want to convince others you must convince yourself first
you're smiling at the genius of your idea
which one of these ideas lights you on fire?
it's a low margin offering
fax someone will not change people minds emotions and feelings are just as important probably more important
you have to see around corners when backing people
I'm sharing a non-obvious insight
I'm interested in researching the economics of gangs
his words landed like a punch to the gut
if you can make your thoughts clear to yourself than another part of your brain will take a closer look
there are two different kinds of people in the world today those that play the game of someday and those that play the game of now
this book is a patchwork of disconnected thoughts
we emotionally connect to people not to concepts
intoxicate me with effort
the only equally powerful thing to missing is missing out
long-term success often comes from short-term embarrassment
you are most convincing in the ways you are truly yourself
if you have the chance be different not better
I have to constantly remind myself to be myself
What my 👂 heard ⤵️
years of learning went into this book
as you can see from the picture below I don't know what I'm doing would you be willing to grab coffee and give me some advice?
we all know how it feels to be unseen or ignored
if you don't truly believe in what you're saying there is no slide fancy enough no hand gesture compelling enough to save you
what moves people isn't charisma but conviction
if you want to convince others you must convince yourself first
you're smiling at the genius of your idea
which one of these ideas lights you on fire?
it's a low margin offering
fax someone will not change people minds emotions and feelings are just as important probably more important
you have to see around corners when backing people
I'm sharing a non-obvious insight
I'm interested in researching the economics of gangs
his words landed like a punch to the gut
if you can make your thoughts clear to yourself than another part of your brain will take a closer look
there are two different kinds of people in the world today those that play the game of someday and those that play the game of now
this book is a patchwork of disconnected thoughts
we emotionally connect to people not to concepts
intoxicate me with effort
the only equally powerful thing to missing is missing out
long-term success often comes from short-term embarrassment
you are most convincing in the ways you are truly yourself
if you have the chance be different not better
I have to constantly remind myself to be myself
November 19, 2023
Topic: Personal Branding
Amazon Rating: 4.6/5
goodreads Rating: 4.2/5
Nick’s Rating: 4.5/5
Who should (or when to) read this: People who feel like they have great ideas but just can’t get over the final hurdle to success.
Nick’s Major takeaway(s): There is an “it” factor, you need to learn how to connect people with your ideas for them to see your idea is “it”. Practice, refine, perfect and be willing to fail.
Notable Quotes: “I’d share the high-level idea and vision—then open it up to discussion. As a result, each pitch began to feel less like a presentation and more like a collaboration.” – Suneel Gupta
“Backable people seem to always be acting as anthropologists, looking for trends and changes.”
“What moves people isn’t charisma, but conviction. Backable people earnestly believe in what they’re saying, and they simply let that belief shine through whatever style feels most natural.”
“You have the most attention from investors in the first few minutes,” he says. “Most investors arrive with questions, and if you proactively show you understand their principal concerns, you earn their attention”
“And it was Mom who made me understand that the opposite of success isn’t failure—it’s boredom.”
If you are interested in more suggestions about personal development, growth and leadership; follow me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/growthshe... to see content on “level up literature” #lul
Amazon Rating: 4.6/5
goodreads Rating: 4.2/5
Nick’s Rating: 4.5/5
Who should (or when to) read this: People who feel like they have great ideas but just can’t get over the final hurdle to success.
Nick’s Major takeaway(s): There is an “it” factor, you need to learn how to connect people with your ideas for them to see your idea is “it”. Practice, refine, perfect and be willing to fail.
Notable Quotes: “I’d share the high-level idea and vision—then open it up to discussion. As a result, each pitch began to feel less like a presentation and more like a collaboration.” – Suneel Gupta
“Backable people seem to always be acting as anthropologists, looking for trends and changes.”
“What moves people isn’t charisma, but conviction. Backable people earnestly believe in what they’re saying, and they simply let that belief shine through whatever style feels most natural.”
“You have the most attention from investors in the first few minutes,” he says. “Most investors arrive with questions, and if you proactively show you understand their principal concerns, you earn their attention”
“And it was Mom who made me understand that the opposite of success isn’t failure—it’s boredom.”
If you are interested in more suggestions about personal development, growth and leadership; follow me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/growthshe... to see content on “level up literature” #lul
August 30, 2021
There was this one time in school when we had an intra-school debate competition, the topic was quite an interesting one and phrased in such a manner that most participants would choose to speak for the motion. Being children, most of us believed that it was the only right thing. However, it was a debate competition so the teachers chose who will speak on for the motion and who will speak against it. My friend was told to speak against the motion; he would be seen practicing his part during the recess. The debate was held on the specified day, to everyone's surprise the students speaking for the motion had prepared poorly, even their valid arguments seemed doubtful and fragile. On the other hand my friend's speech brought an impassioned fervour upon the audience and judges. This made me realise how important it is to know how to say what you want to say, because even though you may be right your idea might not seem 'backable' to the listener.
Dan Pink, the best-selling author of Drive said, "The most successful people aren't just brilliant - they're backable." To get someone to believe in you is a feat. Suneel Gupta, in his book Backable, takes us through the whys and hows of fruitful interaction, persuasion and getting ahead. Enriched with real life encounters, interviews and a straight forward no fuss guide to reaching your goals, this certainly makes you backable!
Dan Pink, the best-selling author of Drive said, "The most successful people aren't just brilliant - they're backable." To get someone to believe in you is a feat. Suneel Gupta, in his book Backable, takes us through the whys and hows of fruitful interaction, persuasion and getting ahead. Enriched with real life encounters, interviews and a straight forward no fuss guide to reaching your goals, this certainly makes you backable!
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