future-thinkers

bookends - v0.0.4

The bookends of pitching an idea. First slide and last slide. Starting with the one slide and ending with the roadmap “stair steps” slide.

Builds on?

  1. External concept: Wardley Maps
  2. #23 - versioning blog posts

Why?

I’ve found that I need a hook drive initial engagement, and a roadmap to drive continued engagement.

  1. These refinements began with pitching startups for funding, but evolved quickly during my full time gigs as a Software Engineer.
  2. A fair amount of recent success by blending the “top down” (directors and above) along with the “bottom up” (developers, designers).
    1. For the “top down” I’ve found that the one slide is the best way to get the attention of the decision makers.
    2. For the “bottom up” I’ve found that the details slides are the best way to get the attention of the implementors.
    3. For everyone, the roadmap slide gives a sense of the scope of the idea, and the steps to get there.

What?

  1. Essentially ~the elevator pitch for the idea~ a “before and after” look with 3-5 bullet points. I typically bury the best ones later in the slide.

Examples?

One Slider

List out 3-5 top of line “before and after” bullet points. These should be the main value points.

  1. Example: “Unclear/inconsistent patterns to implement blog posts” -> “Standard templates to copy/paste” One Slider Sketch

Roadmap

Highlight the steps to get to the end goal, but also to highlight the current state of the idea.

  1. Example: “Goal One: 10 posts” -> “Goal two: 100 posts and feedback from < 10 people” Roadmap Sketch

Mapped out

A document or slideshow that contains this flow:

  1. I find this becomes a network of points all relating between the bookends. You kick it off with an overview, ending with the roadmap of getting to this wonderful value.
graph TD A[One Slider with 5 values points] A --> B[Details first point] A --> C[Details second point] A --> D[Details third point] A --> E[Details fourth point] A --> F[Details fifth point] G[Roadmap slide with current/future state] B --> G C --> G D --> G E --> G F --> G click G href "#roadmap" click A href "#one-slider"