Page 92 - 100 Great Business Ideas: From Leading Companies Around the World (100 Great Ideas)

Quick Ideas 67 to 68

68
Your Elevator Speech

There’s an old saying that you never get a second chance

to make a good first impression. When someone asks who you

are and what you do, how do you respond? You need to know

your elevator speech in sixty seconds or less to be able to tell

them who you are, what you sell or what you serve, and why a

customer should do business with you. You may only get one

chance to make that good

first impression. Assignment
A business owner was

interested in changing his lo- Script your elevator

cal zoning laws. When he speech, and make sure ev-

met a member of his local erybody in your company can

legislature, they got on the recite it word for word so

elevator together to go up to they’re all on the same page.

the conference room. The

legislator pushed the button

for the 12th floor, and when the elevator door closed, he turned

around and said “What do you want from me and what can you

do for me? Tell me in 60 seconds or less.” Amazingly, this

business owner was prepared. He had a well-defined answer,

and by the time the elevator stopped on the 12th floor, the leg-

islator was ready to help him, and also to get the benefit of

having the business owner as a promoter for the upcoming

reelection campaign. Can you tell people in 60 seconds or less

why they should buy from you?

Epilogue
When someone slams the door, don’t put your foot in it.
Stick your head in it so you can keep talking.

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