Last week inside The Upside community, we held our bi-annual, members-only Pitch Perfect event where consultants spanning all stages of business elevated their one-sentence elevator pitch together, through the power of community.
And I say “all stages of business” because whether you’re in year one of your business or celebrating two decades of entrepreneurship, your answer to “So, what do you do?” will continuously evolve…
…with the times.
…with your positioning.
…with client needs.
…with the economy.
…with cultural shifts.
…with what lights you up.
That’s why we host this event every six months: because that’s about how often we all need to re-evaluate the way we introduce ourselves.
At the start of the event, I gave members 5 minutes to jot down their one-sentence elevator pitch, choosing from two different options and parameters:
Option 1:
In 10 words or less and in one sentence only, answer the question, “So, what do you do?”
This isn’t the same as your LinkedIn headline or hero statement on your website. Instead, it’s what you say out loud when you’re at a networking event or party and someone asks this question.
Challenge yourself to include the problem you solve (what you do) + who you solve it for (the clients you serve).
If you’re stuck, try filling in the blanks:
I am a ____________ for ____________.
I do ____________ for ____________.
I work with ____________ to ____________.
I lead a ____________ to ____________.
Challenge yourself to focus on results, objectives, problems solved and the transformation you achieve for clients, not necessarily the skills, tools or specific work you do.
And remember, it can only be 10 words, max. (Because anything more than that and you start to trail off or water down your messaging.) This also means that every word counts, so choose strategically.
Option 2:
Communicate in one sentence WHY you do what you do.
Your Why is not what you do, how you do it, or how you make money. It’s the deeper purpose that drives your work and the impact you create.
Focus on:
- The change you create
- The belief you stand for
- The transformation you want in the world
Ask yourself:
- What changes because of me and my work?
- What do I believe people deserve?
- What frustrates me about the world or my industry that I want to fix?
Sample templates you may find helpful:
I created my business to ____________ so that ____________.
I believe ____________, so I help ____________.
My purpose is to ____________ so that people can ____________.
(If you have 5 minutes right now, set your timer and give Option 1 or 2 a go!)
Next, we broke out into groups of 4 to workshop each others’ pitches with specific parameters for feedback:
Clear – Do I understand what this person does?
Confident – Did their pitch feel and sound natural to say out loud?
Curious – Did their pitch leave me wanting to know more?
And they had to stick to these guidelines:
- 10 words or less
- One sentence only
- Try not to read from a script
This isn’t easy, which is why I made sure to create a friendly, judgment-free environment where everyone felt comfortable stumbling through their words. Perfection was thrown out the window and supportive feedback was embraced by all.
By the end of this one-hour Zoom event, Upside members from across 7 time zones walked away feeling exponentially more confident about how they introduce themselves at events, on podcasts and at parties.
Why is this important? Because your answer to “So, what do you do?” will either land with people, opening new doors to referrals and exciting opportunities, or fall flat, devaluing your work and your business.
If you’re curious what else we do for our members and how our high-caliber community will be the engine that advances your business to the next level…
Then come meet me and our members, plus get a taste of The Upside for yourself at our next Open House (on Zoom). RSVP to save your spot HERE!
