| Did you just meet the most important person in | | | | product? The list goes on and on. Utilize words |
| your career/business? Tongue tied and not sure | | | | that make people want to ask a question, drive |
| what to do about it? With advance planning and | | | | them to ask you to contact them, or compels |
| creative thinking you can be confident you will | | | | them to ask for your business card. |
| know how to handle this situation should the | | | | Now let's prepare to tell someone what you do |
| opportunity present itself. | | | | best. |
| We all have had the juncture when we run into | | | | Here are some examples: |
| someone that we have really wanted to meet. | | | | My name is X. I'm a top-notch accountant. I save |
| Those who are prepared for the occasion will find | | | | my client companies X dollars every year. When I |
| themselves a step ahead on the career ladder or | | | | meet your team, I can improve your bottom line. |
| at the front of the line for business opportunities. | | | | Let me share some examples of my work. When |
| Consider this, we all are bombarded with | | | | can we meet? |
| information; we meet dozens of new people with | | | | My name is X. My new product invention |
| regularity. Ask yourself who do you remember | | | | catapulted my company to #1 in the category. |
| and why? | | | | I'm so creative that I can come up with a new |
| Even in 60 seconds you can make an impression. | | | | invention/product in record time. I would be happy |
| The key is to make that impression a lasting one | | | | to share some of my creative secrets with your |
| or one that will trigger instant recognition. How do | | | | team. When can we meet? |
| you do that? Practice, practice, practice. | | | | My name is X. My marketing skills are superlative. |
| The most important step is having a pitch and | | | | My nickname is the marketing maven. I can |
| then practicing it over, and over, and over. You | | | | brainstorm with your team with examples on how |
| need to be comfortable with your words. You are | | | | we can transform your marketing efforts. Who |
| conveying a powerful message and you need to | | | | should I speak with? |
| sound sincere and convincing. Above all, you need | | | | Notice the action verbs improve, catapulted, |
| to look the part (if you find that you smirk at | | | | brainstorm, and transform. |
| your own words then others will too. If this is the | | | | These are words that create an image and leave |
| case, no one is going to be sold on why they | | | | a lasting impression. Think about words that |
| should remember you.) | | | | express a call to action. Words that leave the |
| Start by boiling down your core message. | | | | person you are meeting knowing they want to |
| Who are you? What do you do? Why do I need | | | | follow up. |
| to know you? What will make me remember | | | | Keep on working at your message toward distilling |
| you? Now that you have answered these | | | | down the core elements. The simpler your |
| questions read the results back to yourself. Is | | | | message, the better it will be received. |
| your message compelling, memorable, or is it just | | | | Be sure and ask for a meeting or the appropriate |
| plain uninteresting and dull? | | | | contact name. Make an effort to get a |
| It's easy to change your message so don't panic. | | | | commitment for follow up. Do not just hand them |
| What is it that you do best? What is your | | | | your business card and smile. Use these tips to |
| strength in your job? Do you make people | | | | solidify your first impression in the first 30 |
| money? Do you keep your company's X out of | | | | seconds of meeting someone. Your career might |
| the fire? Has you best suggestion been | | | | depend on it. |
| implemented? Have you just invented a new | | | | |