I have often watched Dragons Den and seen the terrible pitches some people make and thought : You are rubbish. Why don’t you learn how to present properly? It was not until I ventured to Pinewood Studios one day for my own turn facing the Dragons in their Den that I realised what a terrifying and stressful experience it is. I can honestly say it was the scariest day of my life.
I arrived at the studios early one morning to be recorded walking up the famous stairs and then nothing. I had to wait for hours and hours, nearly all day, in a hot room. I wasn’t allowed to talk to any other contestants because, I was told, it might scare me. It made me even more petrified! Whenever you needed the loo, a member of the crew ensured the coast was clear so we didn’t meet anyone on the way. As time passed, I became more nervous. I guess that’s the point. And in the end I didn’t even get to do my pitch. I had to go home and come back again the next morning after very little sleep.
The actual pitch was hell. I am an experienced and confident presenter and my pitch was rubbish. My throat closed up and I literally couldn’t speak. The enormity of the event got to me. Suddenly I was struck by how important these few minutes all caught on camera were for me, my business and even my family. I kept thinking to myself: “You are being rubbish girl.”
When the time came for the Dragons to ask me questions, and I had to start thinking on my feet, I came into my own. I know my business inside out and I stopped thinking about the situation and just answered the questions. Everyone has always said to me how important it is to ‘know your numbers’ I think that’s nonsense. Learning your business figures parrot fashion doesn’t work. It’s important to feel and understand your business perfectly so however the questions go, you can stand there and give a reasonable answer and defend your thoughts because you know what you are talking about.
What I hated about the whole thing is the combativeness. Some really enthusiastic, capable people, who might need some business support or expertise, were torn apart. I think people trying to set up businesses should be celebrated even if some of their ideas are impractical or silly. There are lots of people who have ideas but I really admire people who get off their behinds and have a go.
Sometimes, the ideas are great but the contestants don’t have the business acumen they need to take it further. What they do need is a good team on board to help them make it happen. Real business doesn’t have to be combative. But I suppose it makes great telly.
I didn’t see the programme before it aired. So I had no idea how I would come across. Lots of my friends wanted to watch it with me. But because 2 hours of Q&A and negotiations were cut down to 10 minutes and I had no idea how they had made me look, I had to watch it with my family first.
What do you think? How do you think it went?
