Does Your Elevator Speech Pass The Test

Hello! How are you? So what do you do?

The clock has started. I've just met you and within those first several seconds have formed an opinion of your success, your income, your education, etc.

Studies show that the average American has a nine second attention span (about the same as a goldfish) and, in reality, doesnt care what you do or who you are. Its not that were horrible people, we just dont have the time. Were too busy thinking about everything we need to do: our jobs, the bills piling up on the kitchen table, our parents health, whats for dinner, whos picking the children up after school, the holidays are coming, etc. But since were polite, we ask and we try to listen.

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, it to get our attention so that we are focused on you and your business. You have between 20 and 30 seconds max. Can you do it?

A 20-30 second verbal message is also called an elevator speech. Studies show that you use your elevator speech 22 more times than you use your printed business card. Yet how much time, effort and energy did you spend in preparing your printed business card as opposed to your oral one?

People prefer to do business with people not with nameless, faceless entities. When you have a chance to be face-to-face with your target audience, you want to have a verbal message that grabs their attention and doesnt let go. You want them asking questions about you and your business because they HAVE to know more.

Take the following:

1. Hi, Im a business coach and I help small businesses get bigger.

2. Hi, I teach businessowners the seven secrets to attracting wealth and skyrocketing their sales, so they can spend more time doing what they love.

Which grabs your attention more?

The first is very matter-of-fact, more educational. The second on the other hand hints of something more a secret, actually SEVEN secrets. Among the things we love most are:

1. numbers

2. secrets

We are a numbers-oriented society. Everything is how much or how many. How old are you? What does she weigh? What is your salary? The Top Ten of this or that list. Take a look at magazine covers the next time youre out shopping and youll realize how much we love numbers and numbered lists.

And then there are the secrets. From childhood, weve all heard the taunt I have a secret, I have a secret and you dont know it. Its ingrained in us. We not only want to know the secret. . . we need to.

The first half of the message addresses a basic need wealth. Now take a look at the second half of the message so they can spend more time doing what they love.

The second half addresses time everyone wants more time to do what they WANT to do, not what they HAVE to do. The first message spoke of helping small businesses get bigger thats great IF they want to get bigger, IF they are ready to get bigger. If a businessowner is in overwhelm, as most unfortunately are, the last thing he/she may want is to get bigger and you will have lost them.

Always remember that people view everything through a WIIFM filter Whats In It For Me? In crafting your elevator speech, you want them to hear, understand and even feel what you can do FOR THEM. Address their basic needs right up front and they will be anxiously awaiting the follow-up. Now its your job to keep them interested. Go get em!

The Get Control of Your Business Now! (tm) Coach, Sandra Martini teaches small business owners how to create more success in their business while enjoying more freedom from their business. Sandra's coaching programs are available via teleconferencing, emails and telephone calls. For more information and to receive the FREE special report, 7 Wealth-Building Secrets of Successful Entrepreneurs, go to http://www.SandraMartini.com

Learn how REAL people made a success of their small businesses and now live the lives of their dreams at http://www.PowerAndSoul.com

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Presentation Skills - Be Prepared for Diverse Audiences

Why were arrows painted on the ceiling? I was speaking at a conference in Malaysia and every meeting room in the hotel had an arrow painted on the ceiling. I could not figure out why. To add to the mystery, every arrow pointed in the same direction.

I asked one of the hotel staff. He said the arrows pointed towards Mecca so Muslims could face in the proper direction during prayers held several times a day. Since Malaysia was a predominately Muslim country every hotel meeting room had these arrows painted on the ceilings.

Before my training session one of my participants asked to take breaks at specific times of the day so she could pray. I said, "Yes, of course" and had the breaks timed appropriately.

The point of these stories is: cultural awareness is crucial when training diverse audiences.

Now, you don't have to go to another country to recognize diversity. For example, another speaker told me about a seminar held for some visiting executives from Japan. He said the Japanese visitors were sitting with their eyes closed, bodies motionless and their heads down. It looked like they were sleeping. Such body language is a sign of deep concentration and respect in Japan. It's as if the Japanese are meditating upon the wisdom of what is being said.

Some speakers would not know that. Instead, they would try to "wake them up" by talking louder or jumping around the stage. But this speaker knew his audience. He appreciated the respect shown by these visiting Japanese executives. In return, he paid them the respect of continuing his presentation without any loud antics.

You need to prepare for a diverse audience. We work in a multi-cultural society where speakers need to respect the diversity of their co-workers and clients. So before you give your next presentation, ask yourself, "How can I the diversity in my audience?" Do your research and prepare accordingly.

2008 Reflective Keynotes Inc., Toronto, Canada

Mike Aoki is a trainer and motivational speaker with 20 years of experience in the telecom industry. For more free tips on public speaking, sales and call center techniques, visit: http://www.reflectivekeynotes.com/articles.htm

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