Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques 281. Be Clear, Be Concise, Be Remembered: Masters of Scale
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Apr 16, 2026 
Jeff Berman, a media and communications leader known for conversations with founders and executives, talks with Matt Abrahams about making communication intentional. They explore speaking anxiety, smarter pitches, better meetings, interview prep, leading big presentations, and using curiosity and deep listening to connect across differences.
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Make Pitches Land Faster And Clearer
- Start pitches fast, tailor them to the audience, emphasize benefits, and show the idea instead of listing features.
- Matt Abrahams says to "start pitches and presentations like an action movie" and to "tell the time, don't build the clock."
A Sales Call That Started With Curiosity
- Jeff Berman learned strong selling starts with curiosity, not slides, when a MySpace sales leader opened by asking what kept clients up at night.
- That conversation changed course in minutes because the pitch adapted to the buyer's actual problems.
Design Meetings Before They Happen
- Set expectations before meetings and only hold meetings with a clear purpose, value, and contribution plan.
- Matt Abrahams uses calendar invites with goals or opening questions and argues meetings can be 17 minutes or even walking meetings.
