Can you say what you do in less time than it takes

for an elevator to reach the ground floor?

Some call it an elevator speech, but it has a number of

other names. Whatever you call lit, being able to say

what you do in a few words without saying "ah, um.."

can make or break a new business relationship.

The Elevator Speech should be designed to grab and hold

interest in the listener, forcing the question "Oh?

Tell me more!"

For as many names an elevator speech has, there are

also as many interpretations as to what it does and how

to do it.

This short presentation should be no longer than 13

words, but the most important 13 words you ever say.

And once you get them figured out, you should commit

them to memory and practice the way you spit them out

to sound effortless, conversational and natural.

The 13 words should tell just enough to generate

interest. If they don't, either the words are all wrong

or the listener is no where near being a possible

business contact.

Here's a quiz: Are these good elevator speeches?

"I'm Local Sales Manager for the number one KIA Dealer

in the district!"

"I'm a Funeral Director."

"I'm VP of Engineering at Boston Scientific."

"I'm a newspaper reporter!"

Unless you find funerals terribly interesting, you are

not likely to say "Oh? Tell me more!" to any of

elevator those speeches. None of them have a hook. They

aren't speeches at all, but statements of title.

Who you are is not what was asked. What you do is the

only answer, and to answer it right, it must be "what I

can do for you"

Ease their pain and you will gain...

What does your elevator speech say about you?

copyright 2006 BIG Mike McDaniel - all rights reserved - BIG Mike is a Business Consultant and Professional Speaker. Subscribet to BIG Ideas newsletter for Small Business. MailTo:BIN@BigIdeasGroup.com