My kids really want a dog. The idea kicked into high gear when Sara's mother came to stay with us, bringing along her two furry friends, Tessa and Sophie. Watching my kids light up around these rescue pups got Sara and me thinking about the power of a well-crafted pitch.
Instead of just saying no or yes, Sara came up with a brilliant idea: She's making the kids put together a full-blown Shark Tank-level presentation to convince her why we should have a dog. And I mean full-blown—we're talking about a comprehensive business plan here.
- The outline includes everything:
- Research on potential breeds
- Detailed responsibility assignments
- Walking and feeding schedules
- Local vet options
- Cost analysis
- Even potential names
We still need to do the presentation, but the process itself has been fascinating. It's teaching the kids something valuable: if you want to convince someone of something, you need to think through what your audience wants to hear, anticipate their concerns, and address them head-on.
In other words, they're learning the art of the sale—just with puppy dog eyes instead of PowerPoint slides. Well, I think there will be some PowerPoint slides, too, but you get the idea.
Whether they get the dog or not, they're getting something even more valuable: their first lesson in how to close a deal. However, who can resist a well-researched pitch from kids who want furry friends?
