Stop Having Great Ideas
That Die in Meetings
Master the psychology of internal influence that gets executives to champion your ideas, approve your budgets, and fast-track your career. Learn why some people get everything approved while others can't even get 5 minutes on the agenda.
🚀 What You'll Master:
30-day guarantee • Join 10,000+ corporate innovators
Why Great Ideas Get Killed
💀 The Corporate Innovation Graveyard
Executives don't buy ideas. They buy certainty, safety, and political capital. Your brilliant strategy means nothing if it threatens their comfort.
You could have the next billion-dollar innovation, but if you don't understand executive psychology, you'll watch inferior ideas get funded while yours dies in PowerPoint.
The difference between approved and rejected isn't the idea - it's how you position it psychologically.
❌ What Gets Ideas Killed
• Leading with logic and data
• Threatening the status quo
• Making executives look bad
• Asking for permission
• Ignoring political dynamics
✅ What Gets Ideas Funded
• Aligning with executive fears
• Making leaders look visionary
• Building coalitions first
• Creating inevitability
• Managing up and sideways
🧠 The Psychology Truth
Every executive decision is 20% logic and 80% emotion. Master the psychology of making them feel safe, smart, and successful, and they'll fight to fund your ideas.
The 6 Laws of Corporate Influence
1. 😰 The Executive Fear Principle
The Psychology: Executives fear looking foolish more than missing opportunities.
Script: "I've been thinking about the risk of NOT doing this. [Competitor] just announced they're investing heavily here. If they succeed while we wait, how do we explain that to the board?"
Result: Shifts from "risky to try" to "risky to wait."
2. 👑 The Glory Attribution Law
The Psychology: People support ideas they feel ownership of.
Script: "Remember when you mentioned [their idea]? That got me thinking... What if we [your idea that builds on theirs]? You basically predicted this trend."
Result: They champion "their" brilliant idea.
3. 🤝 The Pre-Meeting Coalition
The Psychology: Public agreement follows private consensus.
Strategy: Meet 1-on-1 with each stakeholder before the big meeting. "I value your perspective on [idea]. What would need to be true for you to support this?"
Result: Walk into meetings with support already secured.
4. 🪤 The Pilot Trap Technique
The Psychology: Small commitments lead to big ones.
Script: "What if we just pilot this with one team for 30 days? Low risk, and if it doesn't work, we'll kill it. But if it does what I think it will..."
Result: Pilots rarely fail when you control the metrics.
5. 📊 The Data Storytelling Law
The Psychology: Emotion drives decisions, data justifies them.
Structure: Start with story: "Imagine losing our top 3 customers..." Then data: "27% of competitors who ignored this trend lost major accounts." End with vision: "We could own this space."
Result: They feel first, think second, approve third.
6. 🛡️ The Executive Air Cover
The Psychology: Ideas with sponsors survive. Ideas without die.
Approach: Find the exec who gains most from success. "This could be your legacy project. I'll do all the work, you get the glory. All I need is your guidance and protection."
Result: Protected ideas become funded realities.
The Meeting Psychology Playbook
🎯 How to Control Any Meeting
Pre-Meeting: The Setup
Control the narrative before anyone enters
Email: "Looking forward to discussing how we can [exec priority]. I'll share a framework that addresses [their fear]."
Opening: The Frame
Set the psychological anchors
"Before we dive in, let's agree on what success looks like. We all want [shared goal], right? Great. Everything I'll show ladders to that."
Middle: The Objection Preempt
Address concerns before they're raised
"Now, [skeptic's name] is probably thinking about budget. Smart concern. Here's how this pays for itself in 6 months..."
Close: The Assumptive Next Step
Make approval feel inevitable
"So we're aligned on the pilot, right? I'll have the plan to you by Friday. [Sponsor], should I loop in your team directly?"
Email Templates That Get Executive Attention
📧 The Executive Urgency Email
Subject: Quick decision needed - competitor advantage at risk
---
Hi [Name],
[Competitor] just announced [relevant move]. This validates what we discussed, but also means we need to move faster.
I have a plan that could have us in market 3 months before them. 15 minutes to discuss?
Already ran this by [other exec] who's supportive.
[Your name]
Creates urgency + social proof + positions you as solution
📧 The Budget Approval Email
Subject: ROI model for [project] - 3.7x return in Year 1
---
Team,
Attached is the conservative ROI model we discussed. Key highlights:
• Investment: $[X]
• Conservative return: $[3.7X] in Year 1
• Break-even: Month 4
• Risk mitigation: Kill switch at 60 days if metrics don't hit
[CFO name] already reviewed the model and confirmed the assumptions are solid.
Ready to pull the trigger?
[Your name]
Numbers + safety net + CFO validation = approval
📧 The Coalition Building Email
Subject: Your input needed - [project] direction
---
Hi [Name],
Before Thursday's meeting, I wanted to get your perspective on [project].
You always have great insights on [their expertise area], and I want to make sure the proposal addresses any concerns you might have.
Coffee tomorrow at 3? My treat.
[Your name]
Flattery + inclusion + face-time = ally secured
How Influence = Career Acceleration
🚀 The Compound Effect of Internal Influence
Year 1: The Foundation
• Get 2-3 initiatives approved
• Build reputation as "executor"
• Gain executive sponsors
Result: Promoted to Senior level
Year 2: The Accelerator
• Lead major transformation
• Get $1M+ budget approved
• Become go-to for innovation
Result: Jump to Director level
Year 3: The Breakthrough
• Drive company-wide initiative
• Influence without authority
• Executives seek your input
Result: VP consideration or exit to C-suite
⚡ The Power Law of Corporate Success
10% of employees drive 90% of innovation. They're not smarter - they understand the psychology of getting things done in organizations.
What Happens When You Master Internal Influence
🏆 Internal Influence Success Stories
"Went from ignored analyst to VP in 3 years using these techniques. Got a $5M innovation budget approved for an idea that was rejected twice before. The executive sponsor technique alone was worth the price."
"The pre-meeting coalition strategy is genius. Haven't had a single idea killed in committee since learning this. Just got approval for a complete digital transformation - $12M budget. CEO is now my biggest champion."
"Used to be frustrated that my ideas died in meetings. Now executives come to ME with problems to solve. Leading 3 company-wide initiatives and was recruited for Chief of Staff role. This psychology training changed my career trajectory."
Stop Being the Person With Great Ideas
That Never Happen
Your ideas aren't the problem. Your influence strategy is. Master the psychology that gets executives to champion your initiatives and fund your vision.
🎯 Master Internal Influence:
Join 10,000+ corporate innovators driving real change