How to Pitch (Almost) Anything, 1st edition

Published by Pearson Business (October 8, 2025) © 2026

  • Kendra Valentine
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Title overview

A communication book that actually works for real people in real situations.

You know the feeling, someone asks, "So what do you do?" and your mind goes completely blank, or you can't explain it succinctly.

Whether you're networking at events, pitching to investors, or simply trying to explain your work at family dinner, unclear communication is costing you connections, contracts, and career growth every single day.

Here's what makes this different: How to Pitch (Almost) Anything gives your Strategic Story Design a refreshingly simple system with short chapters, practical exercises, and real examples you can use immediately. No complicated theories or corporate jargon, just straightforward methods that work whether you're an entrepreneur, corporate professional, creative, scientist, or anyone whose expertise deserves to be understood.

Perfect for:

  • Entrepreneurs & Startup Founders tired of losing investors in the first 30 seconds
  • Corporate Professionals who want to advance but struggle to articulate their value
  • Creative Professionals who can't translate artistic vision into business terms
  • Technical Experts & Scientists whose brilliant work gets lost in translation
  • International Professionals navigating communication across cultures
  • Non-native English speakers seeking structured, confidence-building approaches
  • Neurodiverse professionals who value clear frameworks over vague advice
  • Anyone who's tired of watching opportunities slip away due to poor communication

What You'll Master:

  • The Strategic Story Design Methodology – A complete system that works across industries and cultures
  • The Pocket Pitch Framework – Turn complex expertise into compelling 1-2 sentence explanations that people actually remember
  • Cross-Cultural Communication – Principles that connect with international audiences
  • The Brand One-Pager Tool – Your strategic foundation that eliminates the "blank page problem" forever
  • The H.E.L.P. Method – Four simple editing principles that work for everything: How you help • Empathy for audience • Less words • Proof for credibility

Why This Book Works:

  • Proven Across Industries: Strategic Story Design was developed through real-world application with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, international tech accelerators, entertainment industry projects, and global corporations—ensuring the methods work across cultures, industries, and professional contexts.
  • Written for Busy People: Real examples you can apply immediately, from photographers to software developers, research scientists to creative directors—see exactly how the methodology adapts to your situation.
  • International Perspective: Created by a story strategist with experience across continents, specifically designed to work across cultural and linguistic boundaries.
  • Inclusive by Design: Written to support diverse backgrounds, including non-native English speakers, neurodiverse professionals, and anyone who feels traditional business communication advice wasn't written for them.

Table of contents

Strategic Story Design and how to use this book

Part I: Story

  1. What is a (good) Story?
  2. Why is Story important?
  3. The Hero & the Seven Basic Plot Structures
  4. What Is Business Storytelling?
  5. The Heroes Journey or Naw?

Part II: The Pocket Pitch

  1. What is a value proposition statement?
  2. Why should I care?
  3. Introducing The Pocket Pitch: Your Key to Good Storytelling
  4. You can help, support, or explore: Alternative words to use

Part III: Strategy

  1. What’s the point, and who’s it for?
  2. The Strategic Brand Brief: One document to rule them all
  3. The Strategic Brand Brief for Institutions & Non-Profits: Mission & Values

Part IV: Design

  1. H- How you Help
  2. E- Empathy for Audience
  3. L- Less Words
  4. P- Proof for Credibility

Part V: One Step Further

  1. The Story Statement Beyond the Pitch: Let the storytelling begin
  2. Case Studies: Using the Pocket Pitch as a starting point to tell any story and H.E.L.P. to refine them.

Closing: A word on EMPATHY- the most important ingredient of all

Notes & Resources

Further Reading

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