How many times are you bored silly by someone’s elevator speech?
Sometimes I find myself furtively looking past someone’s left ear, scanning the room desperately to find a way to escape from this person who simply cannot tell me in a few words what they do and what they want from me? Just like this sentence – wordy!
Oooh, and how often do I bore other people?
I try to work hard at listening. I find myself cross-examining other people to find out what they do. Then I rephrase what they say they do to make sure “I get it”. I even introduce them to other people using my summary to save time. I find it quite easy to summarize someone else’s elevator speech – though they don’t always thank me for it.
I sweat to edit my own though. I wish some one would do it for me. And that person is YOU!
My elevator speech
I’ve given this a lot of thought.
I want to give people some idea of where I am from, and because I have a fair bit of business experience, I want to convey that too but without wasting time, or being overbearing.
Then, I want to find out from them what they do so I can figure out what we can do together. Of course, if they aren’t really sure what they do, then they’ll depend on my framework to guide their response.
I also need to be ready to provide details, explain where I live and tell people where I am from. (Locals will be curious about my accent.)
Here goes.
My name is Jo. I’m a work psychologist. I find the smallest way you, or I, or [the business who is our host] can use social media to achieve our biggest dream.
- We use the self-connecting features of social media networks to get opportunity to find us.
- We show you how to do it. Simply.
- And we stick with you as you try it out.
In a year, if you have the guts, you’ll have a viable business doing what you love.
(Or for an established business: If you get started in small ways today, in a year, the world of Facebook and Twitter will be making money for you.)
How do we work?
We come to you – where you live your life – in cafes, on trains, on line.
We charge a fee to match the task and what you can afford.
Or we work out a joint venture.
Whichever, we only work on big dreams that have little steps that we can take today. We want short punchy projects that show results, or get dropped and we try again.
My company?
Is Rooi – one word – Rooi – red. The colour of our future together.
My town
Olney, north Bucks. Where you are coming to do you Christmas Shopping. British Art. 50 miles from London on the M1. J14 East. The opposite way from Milton Keynes. Great to stop off on a long journey. Great to see the best of Britain and 24 places to eat beginning with a great New York deli!!
Where am I from?
My accent? Zimbabwe where I learned to organize profitable businesses and the New Zealand where I learned to play a little.
Over to you
- Do you know what I do?
- Where am I being long-winded or vague?
- Is it clear where we can have an interesting conversation?
- Can you see how some aspect of your business or life would get a lift by working with me?
- Would you want to take the conversation further?
All comments appreciated. Not only by me, but by the next person I bump into on the rounds of business networks!
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