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First, you may be asking, “What is an elevator pitch?”

I’m glad you asked:

This is the 30-60 second business description of what you do and why someone should work with you. It’s called an “Elevator Pitch” because it describes the challenge: “How would you explain your business and make a sale if fate placed you in an elevator with your dream prospect and you only had the time it takes to get from the top of the building to the bottom?”

Thanks must go to to K. Stone of Life Learning Today, who wrote an incredible piece at Dumb Little Man. There she lays out all of the steps that you need to put your own elevator pitch together. So go get a pencil and a blank sheet of paper, and follow along:

How to Craft Your Killer Elevator Pitch

• Write down what you do. Write it several different ways. Try writing it at least 10-20 different ways. Don’t edit yourself at all. You will edit later. This first step is for generating ideas. Don’t hold back. Ideas can be goofy, serious, wild, funny, or conservative. It doesn’t matter. The goal is to get at many ideas as possible down on paper.
• Write a very short story that illustrates what you do for people. If necessary, the story can be long. You will boil it down later. Paint a picture with words.
• Write down your objective or goal. Do you want to make a sale, gain a prospect, enlist support for an idea, earn a referral, or something else?
• Write 10-20 action statements. This is a statement or question designed to spur the action associated with your goal.

Got that? That is the root of your pitch. Now go back and put the best parts together to make a seamless whole.

What are you shooting for?

A good elevator pitch contains some essential elements, the first three being:

1. Concise. Your pitch should take no longer than 30-60 seconds.
2. Clear. Use language that everyone understands. Don’t use fancy words thinking it will make you sound smarter. Your listener won’t understand you and you’ll have lost your opportunity to hook them.
3. Powerful. Use words that are powerful and strong. Deliver the “Sis-Boom-Bang” to grab their attention!

Read the rest of the post to find out more details.

Here is my own elevator pitch, submitted for your consideration:

“I teach people how to use basic tools and simple practices for taking control of their workflow situation. I write articles and consult on practical ways of being more productive at work and at home.
These practices are designed to give you more time to do the things that matter to you!

I have created custom calendar and organizer products for clients with specific needs that could not find a commercial product to suit them. I’d be happy to get together with you over a cup of coffee and discuss how you feel about your own workflow process.”

Please, critiques in the Comments.

If you found this post useful, please share it with your friends on Twitter using the tinylink http://tinyurl.com/3vgxbj. Thanks, I appreciate it! Feel free to comment below, I enjoy discussing these ideas. ~@Stephen