![\"\"](\"http:\/\/barkadacircle.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/elevator_pitch.jpg\")
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The door opens, you both step into the car and she pushes the button for the lobby.
\nIt\u2019s a few floors down so you decide to strike up a conversation about the event that you just attended. She then asks: \u201cWhat do you do?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
Surely, you\u2019ve had several opportunities to deliver your elevator pitch without having
\nto actually be inside an elevator. However, knowing a definitive cutoff for the encounter
\ndemands brevity and a stunning ability to leave a lasting impression on the other person. How do you make the best use of this moment?<\/p>\n
One can argue that you can never be ready for a chance encounter that could lead to a
\npotentially large gain for your nonprofit. Granted that each time is unique, you can still have a game plan that will help you to begin from a point of clarity and confidence.<\/p>\n
Stick with the basics. The first two can be lifted directly from your website. The third should be centered Come from a genuine place. \u201cOur mission matters so much to me because\u2026\u201d Your pitch is not a list. Be an opportunity maker. Seth Godin<\/a> said, \u201cThe best elevator pitch is true, stunning, brief and it leaves the listener Your pitch scales your mission down to a human level for the other person to grasp. If you\u2019re interested in how Barkada Circle can guide you in honing your elevator pitch, send us an email<\/a> or call us at (773) 852-3522.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The door opens, you both step into the car and she pushes the button for the lobby. It\u2019s a few floors down so you decide to strike up a conversation about the event that you just attended. She then asks: \u201cWhat do you do?\u201d Surely, you\u2019ve had several opportunities to deliver your elevator pitch without … Continue reading The best elevator pitch is about you.<\/span>
\n<\/b>Your pitch must be grounded by answering three questions:<\/p>\n\n
\naround YOU.<\/p>\n
\n<\/b>A dear friend and mentor once told me, \u201cMore important than your message is your
\nrelationship with your message.\u201d<\/i> At that particular moment, the person talking to you
\nis interested in you. Information that reveals who you are will do a better job holding
\nhis attention during the short ride. Therefore, by all means, make it personal.<\/p>\n
\n<\/i>\u201cWorking in this nonprofit gives my life meaning and purpose because\u2026\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>Too often, I hear nonprofit staff rattle off their programs while the other person\u2019s gaze starts to wander. Once you lose eye contact with the other person, they have a great excuse to disengage. Your audience will remain captive with a conversation, not a set of bullet points.<\/p>\n
\n<\/b>Now that you have her undivided attention, she may want to spend a few more minutes with you even after you’ve both left the elevator. This is your chance to switch the\u00a0focus and make it about the other person. What can she gain from this brief encounter? Can she learn about recent critical developments in your field? Can he benefit from meeting someone on your board? At this point, be an active listener.<\/p>\n
\neager (no, desperate) to hear the rest of it.\u201d\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
\nBy making it personal and meaningful for yourself, your passion for the cause will easily come across in an authentic manner. This is what resonates with your listeners. It will make them want to continue the conversation and find their own meaning in your mission.<\/p>\n