My Elevator Pitch

As I begin my new profession as a Life Coach, I too have to prepare my elevator pitch. As a teacher, I had captive audience (my clients) and did not necessarily have to worry about elevator pitch. However now as I look back, I realise that I have actually been doing it over the years. Every year when a new batch walks in, I do my elevator pitch through my self introduction. I do the elevator pitch when I tell the class what they can expect from the course that I am offering. I do the elevator pitch when I tell the students what transformation they can expect to see in themselves, provided they are willing to accept my grilling.

I happened to be watching a video of Lisa Nichols who is giving a substitute to the elevator pitch and calling it SNAAP (Super Networking At Accelerated Pace). She talks of focusing on offering a clear, concise, powerful and quick pitch in 60 seconds or less. She suggests that we begin with the results and then describe the process. Finally end with a question like “Would you happen to know anyone who would be interested ?” Instead of framing the question this way, if we decide to ask “Would you be interested?” , it will put the listener in an awkward position should the answer be “no”. Hence the framing of the question as “Would you happen to know anyone who would be interested ?” Take a moment to reflect on your elevator pitch. I am sure most of us will begin with the process and then move to results. But Lisa is asking us to do the opposite because the listener is always looking out for the benefit. Once the benefit is stated, the listener will get hooked to the process.

Listening to Lisa Nichols speak, made me relate with Simon Sinek’s “Start with the WHY”. He too talks of focusing on why are we doing a business, before we move to how we do it and what we do. The “why” is the passion that drives the business.

Both Simon and Lisa got me thinking. I was very clear on why I decided on Life Coaching as a profession. I am passionate about getting people unleash their potential and take advantage of the opportunities around them. I want people to become a better version of themselves.   How can I get to do that? It can be done by either training, mentoring or coaching. I am comfortable with any of these methods. What I do implies the process that I follow. If I were to keep this in mind, this is how my SNAAP would look like.