Is your elevator pitch taking you to the wrong floor?

So, what do you do?

How many times do you get asked this question at a networking event, from potential service partners or in the grocery store?  It happens all the time, right? Do you have a good answer? 

The answer is known as your elevator pitch. The idea being, you enter the elevator and the person standing next to you asks what you do. You have the length of time it takes to ride to the lobby to tell your story in a way that make the person ask for more details. You have even less time than that to get them interested, or your encounter goes from potential to pleasantry. In reality, you have about 10 seconds to grab the other person’s attention and convince them that you can make their life better. The key rule is crafting an elevator pitch is it’s not about you.

Many people stumble around, looking for the right words to describe what they do. They think about their job title and lead with that. Next they add details to their title to make it sound more important or interesting. Next they add a special award that they won and .  .  .  What’s that you’re saying, I quit listening. Now I’m sorry I even asked you what you do and I’m trying to figure out if I can get out on the 1^st floor so I won’t have to deal with you in the lobby.

 That is what you were asked, right? Well, technically. But that’s not how you should answer.  Telling people literally what you do violates the #1 rule of elevator pitches: It’s not about you.

Over the next few posts, we’ll talk about the five rules of elevator pitches and how you can craft a pitch that’s sure to get your riding partner to ask for more.

Do you have a great elevator pitch that you’d like to share? If so, list it in the comments.