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Your Elevator Speech: The Most Important Few Words in Your Business Life

Your Elevator Speech: The Most Important Few Words in Your Business Life

Despite the growing importance of the Internet, many people still depend on successful face-to-face communication for their business and advancement, in both the for-profit and nonprofit arenas.

One of the most talked-about – and challenging – aspects of daily business life is the ability to be able to say what you do in just a few words. Popularly called “the elevator speech” or “the elevator pitch,” this mini-commercial enables others to quickly understand your specialty and decide whether or not it’s worthwhile to pursue a conversation with you.

The reality is there is much more that you could say than you’ll ever have to time to recite. Further, the teenage mantra, “nobody cares,” applies. With the exception of your mother, your significant other and perhaps your best friend, no one else really wants to hear everything you could tell them about your product, service or company.

That said, a strategy that has worked for our clients over the years is to first write out a 200-word description of your company or product. Then, cut it down to 100 words. It is painful, but you’ll find yourself weeding out the lesser important details. Finally, cut it even further to 50 words – about a typical 30-second elevator speech.

To appear confident and an expert when you deliver your elevator message, be sure to practice it aloud at least nine times until it rolls off your tongue naturally. Try it out in front of a close friend. Eliminate any words you can not say easily or that sound stilted.
Smile and look the person in the eye. Remember, you have something important to share! They just don’t know it yet.





Your Elevator Speech The Most Important Few Words in Your Business Life - To learn more about this author, visit Anne Freedman's Website.

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Cheryl Matthynssens

Cheryl is a life skills coach, licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and a 20 year entrepreneur.  Cheryl's dedication to achieving a life of balance led to her expanding her teaching from the simple managing of life's daily challenges to adding financial well being as well.  A direct marketer with DrinkACT, she is gaining ground in the online community with her concepts of making sure business owners, entreprenuers and employees have well rounded life styles.  She opened up a small affiliate site - The Balance Guide-  to help others find resources for mental and emotional well being.  Visit Cheryl's blog to see more of the diversity beyond business she has began offering online at www.thebalanceguide.blogspot.com

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Dave Kurlan
Dave Kurlan is the founder and CEO of Objective Management Group, Inc., the industry leader in sales assessments and sales force evaluations, and the CEO of David Kurlan & Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in sales force development. Dave has been a top rated speaker at Inc. Magazine's Conference on Growing the Company, the Sales & Marketing Management Conference and the Gazelles Sales & Marketing Summit. He has been featured on radio and TV, including World Business Review with General Norman Schwarzkopf, in Inc. Magazine, Selling Power Magazine, Sales & Marketing Management Magazine and Incentive Magazine. He is the author of Mindless Selling and Baseline Selling – How to Become a Sales Superstar by Using What You Already Know about the Game of Baseball. He created and wrote STAR, a proprietary recruiting process for hiring great salespeople, and he writes Understanding the Sales Force, a popular business Blog and is a contributing author to The Death of 20th Century Selling and 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life, Volume 2. - Visit Dave Kurlan's Website

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George Ludwig is a recognized authority on sales strategy and peak performance psychology. An international speaker, trainer, and corporate consultant, he helps clients like Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Northwestern Mutual, CIGNA, and numerous others improve sales force effectiveness and performance. Though it's George's strategies and processes that help corporations increase productivity and performance, it's his tremendous energy and dynamism that spark the transformation. Again and again, clients remark on his amazing ability to unleash human capacity and inspire men and women to break out of their comfort zones. The result is a whole new type of salesperson. His customized presentations teach achievers to make stunning advances in their lives. From helping salespeople realize cherished dreams to helping corporations exponentially accelerate revenue streams, George Ludwig leaves audiences and individuals empowered, emboldened, and clamoring for more. George is the best-selling author of Power Selling: Seven Strategies for Cracking the Sales Code and Wise Moves: 60 Quick Tips to Improve Your Position in Life & Business. - Visit George Ludwig's Website

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David Barr is the President of Venture Opportunities, Inc. David has been a professional business broker/intermediary since 1980 focusing on General Business Brokerage and Mergers and Acquisitions representing client transaction value from $400,000 to $20,000,000. Mr. Barr has handled the sale of over four hundred and fifty companies. David earned a university degree from the State University of New York majoring in economics and business. David holds the Mergers and Acquisition Master Intermediary and the Certified Business Intermediary designations from the International Business Brokers Association. He is also a Senior Business Analyst and a Texas licensed Real Estate Agent. For more information about David and Venture Opportunities, visit www.bizdealmaker.com. - Visit David Barr's Website

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Anne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website

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Anne Freedman
(Visit Anne's Website) Anne B. Freedman is founder and president of Speak Out, Inc., in Miami, FL. She is an internationally-recognized executive speaking and networking coach, keynote speaker, and author of several books including “Unforgettable Speeches and Sales Presentations in 8 Easy Steps,” “Own the Room: Connect, Persuade & Succeed,” and a collection of how-to e-books. Her company creates messages and provides presentation coaching for senior level executives and entrepreneurs. Additionally, customized training programs are conducted in presentations, team communication, selling skills and networking. New Speak Out Persuasion Boot Camps, one-day and weekend programs, are offered in Miami. Reach Anne at 305.273.6640 or Toll-free at 800/998-SPEAK. E-mail: anne@speakoutinc.com. The website is www.speakoutinc.com.

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