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Business Book Awards 2026 Shortlisted in Business Self Development category
Most pitches and presentations suck. Yours don’t have to.
Whenever you speak you’re not just sharing information, you’re asking your audience to buy into you and your ideas. In a world where attention is at a premium, you have to cut through the noise. Pitches and presentations aren’t something to wing. The best presenters prepare with purpose, crafting what to say and how to say it. Get it right and you will supercharge your influence, your impact and your results.
Cut-Through reveals a proven six-step process for developing your ideas and giving a winning performance. You’ll discover how to crystallise your thinking into ‘sticky’ key messages, shape them into a narrative your audience can’t ignore, then deliver your words with confidence. Packed with easy-to-implement tools and techniques, you’ll also have access to a library of powerful resources including a diagnostic scorecard, bite size videos, downloadable cheat sheets and more.
Dominic Colenso started his career as an actor, most famously playing Virgil Tracy in the Hollywood remake of Thunderbirds alongside Sir Ben Kingsley. He now works with businesses around the world, helping individuals and teams take centre stage and deliver outstanding results.
By the time he was 26 Dominic Colenso had flown a spaceship, lost a million dollars and been fired by Simon Cowell. He now empowers businesses, sales teams and leaders around the world to increase the impact of their communication and perform at their best under pressure. He’s also the host of the Why Life’s A Pitch podcast.
Preface: It starts with silence
INTRODUCTION: Why life's a pitch
1. DISCOVER: Zoom out to the big picture
- Don't be afraid to say no
- Know your audience
- Stand & Deliver: Facts vs Feelings
- Put people in boxes
- Stand & Deliver: Who Am I Talking To?
- Know what you want
- Stand & Deliver: See It. Feel it. Say it.
- Pick the right team
- Celebrate your uniqueness
- There's always competition
- Stand & Deliver: Define. Differentiate. Destroy
- Go big to go small
- Chapter Summary
2. DISTIL: Cut it back to the core
Step 2: Distil
- Pick the format
- Find the essence
- Write the headline
- Harness the power of three
- Stand & Deliver: What do you want them to know?
- Make them feel something
- Stand & Deliver: What do you want your audience to feel?
- Don't be afraid to ask
- Stand & Deliver: What do you want your audience to do?
- Make it ‘towards’ or ‘away from’
- Stand & Deliver: Why now?
- Add some stardust
- Use the blockbuster formula
- Stand & Deliver: 20:70:10
- Chapter Summary
3. DESIGN: Craft a blockbuster narrative
- Step 3: Design
- Always go back to the exam question
- Decide on how to script it
- Brilliant beginnings
- Stand & Deliver: Create a S.T.A.R. Opening
- Mesmerising middles
- Become a master storyteller
- Stand & Deliver: Choose your middle 1.2.3.
- Excellent endings
- Stand & Deliver: Season your ending with S.A.L.T.
- A presentation on a page
- Choose your visual approach
- Don't kill them with boring slides
- Stand & Deliver: Make sure it flows
- Chapter Summary
- DRILL: Prepare a star performance
Step 4: Drill
- Rehearse like a pro
- Stand & Deliver: Create a rehearsal schedule
- Bring the words to life
- Fine tune your teamwork
- Stand & Deliver: Speed runs
- Don't ignore the camera
- Stand & Deliver: Set the stage for success
- Prepare for Q&A
- Stand & Deliver: Draft a worse case list
- Have a plan B and C
- Stand & Deliver: Pack a parachute
- Chapter Summary
5. DELIVER: Leave them wanting more
- Step 5: Deliver
- Ditch the nerves
- Stop before you start
- Stand & Deliver: Take a deep breath
- Warm up your instrument
- Stand & Deliver: Plan your warm-up
- Check the tech
- Start with a bang
- Don't forget to unmute
- Stand & Deliver: Use a checklist
- Stop the tumbleweed
- Handle any objections
- Chapter Summary
6. DEBRIEF: Enjoy the accolades and learn from the critics
- Step 6: Debrief
- Review your performance
- Ask for feedback
- Build your presentation bank
- Stand & Deliver: Capture your learning
- Chapter Summary
Epilogue: Action! Taking the next step
Acknowledgements
Appendix A: More formulas for a 1.2.3. middle
The Author
Also by Dominic Colenso…
Endnotes
Preface: It starts with silence
INTRODUCTION: Why life's a pitch
1. DISCOVER: Zoom out to the big picture
- Don't be afraid to say no
- Know your audience
- Stand & Deliver: Facts vs Feelings
- Put people in boxes
- Stand & Deliver: Who Am I Talking To?
- Know what you want
- Stand & Deliver: See It. Feel it. Say it.
- Pick the right team
- Celebrate your uniqueness
- There's always competition
- Stand & Deliver: Define. Differentiate. Destroy
- Go big to go small
- Chapter Summary
2. DISTIL: Cut it back to the core
- Step 2: Distil
- Pick the format
- Find the essence
- Write the headline
- Harness the power of three
- Stand & Deliver: What do you want them to know?
- Make them feel something
- Stand & Deliver: What do you want your audience to feel?
- Don't be afraid to ask
- Stand & Deliver: What do you want your audience to do?
- Make it ‘towards’ or ‘away from’
- Stand & Deliver: Why now?
- Add some stardust
- Use the blockbuster formula
- Stand & Deliver: 20:70:10
- Chapter Summary
3. DESIGN: Craft a blockbuster narrative
- Step 3: Design
- Always go back to the exam question
- Decide on how to script it
- Brilliant beginnings
- Stand & Deliver: Create a S.T.A.R. Opening
- Mesmerising middles
- Become a master storyteller
- Stand & Deliver: Choose your middle 1.2.3.
- Excellent endings
- Stand & Deliver: Season your ending with S.A.L.T.
- A presentation on a page
- Choose your visual approach
- Don't kill them with boring slides
- Stand & Deliver: Make sure it flows
- Chapter Summary
- DRILL: Prepare a star performance
Step 4: Drill
- Rehearse like a pro
- Stand & Deliver: Create a rehearsal schedule
- Bring the words to life
- Fine tune your teamwork
- Stand & Deliver: Speed runs
- Don't ignore the camera
- Stand & Deliver: Set the stage for success
- Prepare for Q&A
- Stand & Deliver: Draft a worse case list
- Have a plan B and C
- Stand & Deliver: Pack a parachute
- Chapter Summary
5. DELIVER: Leave them wanting more
- Step 5: Deliver
- Ditch the nerves
- Stop before you start
- Stand & Deliver: Take a deep breath
- Warm up your instrument
- Stand & Deliver: Plan your warm-up
- Check the tech
- Start with a bang
- Don't forget to unmute
- Stand & Deliver: Use a checklist
- Stop the tumbleweed
- Handle any objections
- Chapter Summary
6. DEBRIEF: Enjoy the accolades and learn from the critics
- Step 6: Debrief
- Review your performance
- Ask for feedback
- Build your presentation bank
- Stand & Deliver: Capture your learning
- Chapter Summary
Epilogue: Action! Taking the next step
Acknowledgements
Appendix A: More formulas for a 1.2.3. middle
The Author
Also by Dominic Colenso…
Endnotes