Why You Need an “Elevator Pitch” For Your Life
If you’ve ever worked in the entertainment or media industry, you know about “elevator pitches.” Essentially, the idea is that if you meet a big producer or movie studio executive in an elevator, you should be able to deliver a summary of your movie idea in the time span of an elevator ride, or roughly 1-2 minutes. If that short pitch is done right, the producer or executive will want to know more – and theoretically invite you to a meeting.
But here’s an even bigger – and better – idea:
You need an elevator pitch for your life and your dream. After all, you never know when you’ll encounter someone who can provide you with a dream job or make your goal a reality. That moment might happen at a restaurant, movie theater, church, or shopping mall – it doesn’t matter. You should always be ready to articulate where you want to go with your life in a compelling way that inspires people.
So how do you craft an elevator pitch for your life? Remember, you only have 1-2 minutes, so start by answering these questions:
1) Who are you?
2) What do you do?
3) Where do you want to go?
4) How will you get there?
5) How can you help them?
For instance, your pitch might be:
“Hello, (Who are you?) I’m Phil Cooke, and (What do you do?) I work as a warehouse supervisor for our company. But (Where do you want to go?) I’ve always had a gift for motivating and inspiring people, which is why I’m pursuing a sales career. As a result, (How will you get there?) I’ve been taking marketing classes at the local university, and I’m being mentored by one of the top sales pros in the area. (How can you help them?) I’ve noticed that in our Southern region, there’s significant turnover among salespeople. I grew up in that area, so I know how they think and respond. That’s why I believe if I were a sales professional there, I could make a significant, positive impact on this company.”
Wow. You just got the boss’s attention. You did your homework, expressed yourself clearly and quickly, and remembered to include what’s in it for him. He or she will get off that elevator asking a lot of questions about you, the sales department, and why you’re not in it.
An elevator pitch for your life. Write it up. You never know when you’ll need it.
Phil Cooke, PhD. has been called “one of the most innovative communicators of our generation.” As a media producer, writer, speaker, and consultant, his client list includes major film studios and TV networks as well as major Christian organizations like Voice of the Martyrs, The Museum of the Bible, The Salvation Army, and others. He’s also coached and consulted with many of the most influential churches and nonprofit organizations in the world, helping them use media to tell their story. You can hear his podcast here.
