Comments on: The elevator pitch is for people who don’t really care.

By: Noel Jackson

Noel Jackson — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:30:06 +0000

You’re totally right. The hard part, is finding the people that DO care enough-and have enough time-to have a conversation with you. Those that do are gems and great people. But to me, they seem to be diamonds in the ruff.

By: Mark Wayland

Mark Wayland — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 22:48:20 +0000

You’re correct. The Elevator Pitch as a concept is dead. Explaining what you do in 3 sentences or 30 seconds is one of great uban business myths. It has never worked. It is time for “the Elevator Pitch 2.0″ which is, as you point out, a way of introducing yourself that attracts the attention of the listener and starts a conversation. And a conversation that is more than waiting for your turn to talk. It must be that (sometimes illusive) mix of fact and emotion that resonates with the listener and engages them to think. I work as a professional development trainer (yawn). When I’m asked “what do I do?” I reply, “have you ever been to a training workshop and back at work, on Monday morning, nothing changes?” Everyone nods and the conversation goes on from there.

By: josh kamler

josh kamler — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:40:23 +0000

Good point, Ben. It’s never a good idea to shut down in conversation. But it’s not always easy to take the high road.

By: Ben Chun

Ben Chun — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 06:45:51 +0000

There are definitely people who just want to feed the elevator pitch into their do-I-care filter. But is it possible to ask for someone’s elevator pitch as a way of starting the conversation? Sometimes I like to give the other person the floor for a minute to let them get out a whole string of ideas before I start jumping all over everything interesting.

I liked where you were going before with the idea that it’s best not to have a stiff, unthinking elevator pitch. But I’m not so sure that it’s a good idea to shut down when someone says those magic words.