This Isn't Baseball - Stop Playing Fast Pitch

I grew up playing baseball, like so many kids in America. My favorite role was pitching. I dreamed of throwing a 100 mph fastball, hoping to hear it snap into the catcher’s glove. While I never reached that speed, the dream stayed with me.

Fast pitching works in baseball. But in business? It’s a losing play.

Why Fast Pitches Fail in Business

Think about LinkedIn or any networking space. How often do you accept a new connection, only to get an immediate sales message? “Here’s what I sell… want to buy?” It happens far too often. 

That’s the equivalent of throwing a 90mph fastball at someone who hasn’t even stepped into the batter’s box. It doesn’t create trust. It doesn’t spark conversation. It usually makes the other person back away. As the recipient of these "fastball" messages on a daily basis, sometimes I feel like that 90mph pitch is coming straight at my head, making me not want to come back to the batters box. 

In business, relationships are the foundation of growth. When you open with a fast pitch, you’re not building relationships, you’re simply starting (and often ending) a transaction.

Business Is a Team Sport

Entrepreneurship is not about striking people out. It’s about moving around the bases together. It’s about partnerships, collaboration, and community.

At BOSS Academy, we’ve seen time and again that the leaders who thrive aren’t the ones who try to “win” every interaction. They’re the ones who focus on trust, who listen, and who look for ways to support others.

When you take time to warm up, toss the ball back and forth, and build rapport, you create a rhythm of trust. And when trust is there, opportunities show up naturally.

Going back to the LinkedIn example, trust can't be built from a pitch. It's built with the idea of a mutual exchange to find out where there's a need and a benefit. If you're only looking to benefit and not fill needs, you're back on the mound throwing heaters at an empty batters box.

How to Play the Long Game

Instead of the fast pitch, try a different approach:

• Warm up first. Ask about someone’s goals, challenges, or passions before you talk about what you offer.

• Play catch. Engage in real back-and-forth. Listen to understand, not just to respond.

• Wait for the right pitch. Timing matters. Earn the right to share your solution after you’ve built a relationship.

• Think long-term. A single transaction is nothing compared to a trusted relationship that creates opportunity again and again.

The Home Run of Trust

Fast pitching is a shortcut that rarely works. Real wins in business come from building strong connections, investing in people, and showing up with integrity.

So, next time you feel tempted to pitch before connecting, remember: this isn’t baseball. Step back, slow down, and focus on building trust. Because in business, relationships are the real home run. Schedule with Paul Kirch and let's build a better game plan.

Now go play ball.