WHAT YOU DO IS NOT WHO YOU ARE

Elevator Pitches Part 3

What you DO is not who you ARE.

And visa versa. Who you are is not necessarily what you do… and the true purpose of an elevator pitch is to reveal not only what you do, but why you are special.

Therefore, starting your pitch with a job title isn’t necessarily the most effective way to go. It doesn’t say HOW you do what you do… what makes you intriguing and unique. It doesn’t say anything about the kind of person you are or the way in which you do business. Let’s look at 2 examples:

1. Saying, “I’m a software designer,” doesn’t sound nearly as intriguing as, “I design computer software used in the space station by NASA astronauts.” OR “My last computer software design was for an on-line hotel room reservation program that saved my client over $2 million last year.”
2. Saying, “I’m a Financial Planner,” doesn’t peak the curiosity that this might: “I specialize in custom financial planning that centers on the 2 most significant dynamics of most portfolios.”

If we examine #1, the NASA statement says a great deal about you as a human being. Without being so blatant, it says you are obviously trust-worthy to get such security clearance, above average intelligence, that you think “outside the box,” and you probably work well in a team environment. All of these statements open the door to further conversation.

Rather than start with a job title, work backwards. State something about what you do that makes you unique, or perhaps, a particular accomplishment that gives you pride in your trade.

If you have trouble with this assignment, you might want to examine the way you approach your work. How one feels about themselves and their work comes across, whether we know it or not!

The bottom line of this conversation is that only you know what makes you special, unique, most qualified, etc and must be answered by you, first and last. It is impossible to be all things to all people and those who try, usually wind up being nothing to most.