| If you're in business for yourself, you must | | | | Start with the three questions above: |
| master the art of self-promotion. Every | | | | 1. What do you do? |
| opportunity you get to explain what you do is an | | | | 2. For Whom |
| opportunity to earn new business. If you are | | | | 3. Most importantly, what do they get out of it? |
| self-employed or an independent contractor, you | | | | Or you can fill in the blanks: I help (Who) |
| might already be familiar with the concept of | | | | (do |
| having an elevator pitch, which is a short, 15 | | | | what?)________________________(so |
| second explanation of what you do, how you do | | | | that they can) |
| it and for whom. | | | | |
| Ergo, it's an explanation that can be delivered in | | | | Let's take the example of a teacher. They're not |
| the same amount of time that it takes to ride an | | | | independent contractors in all cases, but let's |
| elevator. | | | | assume we have an elementary school teacher at |
| Often times, when people ask you what you do, | | | | a party with bankers. He or she might say |
| you might feel compelled to give a one word | | | | something like this: I manage and instruct twenty |
| response: Doctor, Teacher, Realtor, Musician, etc. | | | | four 10-year olds in Literacy and Math for ABC |
| If you're giving a one word response, naturally | | | | school so that they can one day become |
| people may ask follow-up questions: what is your | | | | productive members of society. Ok, so maybe |
| practice; what grade do you teach; where do you | | | | this is a little bit over the top, but it's at least a |
| sell houses; or what instrument do you play, etc. | | | | start and a better description than a one word |
| The problem with giving a one word response is | | | | response. |
| not with being asked to further explain yourself, in | | | | In some cases, you have to give a one word |
| fact, asking questions is a great way to build a | | | | response; in which case, you should label yourself |
| relationship. It's the amount of time it takes to | | | | with specific details i.e. I am an emergency room |
| respond. If you're in an actual elevator, you're | | | | physician; I am a residential real estate agent; I |
| likely to leave your new prospect or networking | | | | am a lounge, bass guitarist. |
| friend hanging. | | | | The more specific you are about what you do, |
| The second misfortune that comes with a one | | | | the greater your chances are of leaving a good |
| word response is allowing your prospect to group | | | | first impression and more importantly, the greater |
| you with other business professionals i.e. you're | | | | your chances of finding someone you can develop |
| just another doctor, another teacher. Don't allow | | | | long term business relationship. For more |
| people to assume what you do. Tell them by | | | | information, please visit my blog for tips and |
| developing an elevator pitch that can delivered to | | | | strategies for reinventing yourself. |
| anyone, even your mom. | | | | |