Do you have an elevator pitch?

Imagine you’re going to visit your grandmother in her new apartment downtown. It’s a great place to live, right on the water. You’ve even heard some important people live there, CEO’s and Politicians.

As you click the button to the 5th floor someone asks you to hold the door. When the woman arrives, you think you’ve seen her before, but aren’t quite sure. When you realize who it is, you also realize you only have thirty seconds to make your pitch. What do you say? Can you even say it? She’s the owner of your dream company, there, trapped in the elevator for half a minute or more.

The elevator pitch is as old as marketing and sales. When it comes to you however, it can be nerve racking. Do you talk about yourself or your skills? Do you focus on your accomplishments?

The most important part about the elevator pitch is to pique someone’s curiosity. There are very few people who can close a sale in thirty seconds. Your task is to open the door so the person you’re speaking to asks for more. Whether it’s to make a sale or to get a job, the elevator pitch is your opportunity to reach for your prize.

When you think about your elevator pitch, you need to think about what will make people curious. Is it your skills or experience that makes people ask for more? You may only have thirty seconds.