For the past ten years, I have been helping professionals of all kinds work on their elevator pitches or “30-second commercials” as they are often called. I can’t think of a single client that didn’t get nervous before they had to introduce themselves or pitch their ideas or services in front of others.
A number of years ago, I uploaded a short video from a live seminar and posted it on my YouTube Channel (How to craft your 30 second elevator pitch or networking introduction) . It has helped many viewers. Still, I myself have been in pursuit of a more perfect template to help me and others introduce themselves with confidence.
Thanks to my wonderful business coach, Mark LeBlanc, I believe I have found the magic formula. He calls it the Defining Paragraph. It has 7 parts and works like a dream. Below is his template (shared with permission) and the current imperfect draft of my Defining Paragraph.
You can use this template to quickly position yourself in many situations. Whenever someone asks you, “Tell me about yourself.” I even have a client who modified it and used it to create the summary on her LinkedIn profile.
Play with it. Practice it. Memorize it. Modify it.
Remember, structure liberate. And this template is a winner!
My Defining Paragraph – TEMPLATE
- Your name
- Your company name
- P – the defining statement for your primary area of responsibility, expertise or offering
- S – Defining statement for your secondary area of responsibility, expertise or offering
- Credibility statement -you only need to share one
- Value statement – list up to 4 outcomes/results that capture the real value of your work
- Add a personal statement – bring more of who you are in definition statements. Start with phrase, “On a personal note,”
EXAMPLE of my imperfect draft of a Defining Paragraph
My name is Kathy McAfee and I am known as America’s Marketing Motivator.
As a communications expert I work with corporate professionals who want tostop global boring by reducing their PowerPoint emissions and becoming more influential communicators.
As a marketing coach I work with entrepreneurs, business owners, and thought leaders to increase their individual effectiveness through personal branding, high value marketing, public speaking, and strategic connections.
In fact, my blog, named after my book Networking Ahead for Business, won the 2014 Best Blog of the Year by the Women In Business and The Professions World Awards. I’m committed to helping people rethink networking, not as an event or activity, but as a strategy for life.
As a result of my work, professionals are able to more confidently build their businesses and careers, share their ideas and connections, and create more opportunities for themselves and others.
On a personal note, I’m an ovarian cancer survivor, and feel grateful to have a new lease on life.
NOW…create your own defining paragraph.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. In fact, draft and imperfect version and begin using it and getting feedback
Additional Resources:
- You can find the Defining Paragraph template on the Play To Your Strengths workbook – also available in the Open Vault. Here’s the link: http://www.americasmarketingmotivator.com/vault-item/workbook-play-to-your-strengths/
- Video yourself practicing your Defining Paragraph on your Smartphone or IPad. Use this self-assessment worksheet to identify areas of strength and weakness. Download this Self Assessment – Video Practice – Defining Paragraph
