Happy National Elevator Day
July 30th is National Elevator day, which got me thinking about the all important role of the elevator pitch. Everyone needs a good elevator pitch, the one-minute introduction of yourself that encapsulates who you are and where you’re going in 60 seconds or less. New graduates get coaching in this: the one minute pitch is helpful in interviews and with networking. But it’s not just for 22-year olds: everyone should have the ability to make a quick connection with a short summary of who you are and where you are headed.
Connections Elevate Everyone
It’s all about connections. Talking about your goals is good for you: it helps manifest your dreams into reality. And you never know when the person you’re talking to will become a trusted friend, a business associate, or provide valuable advice that leads to a path forward. All of these human connections leave you open to serendipity, (“development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.”)
You need to be able to introduce yourself in under a minute so that you can ask follow up questions of your fellow humans. You can follow Ted Lasso’s advice to “Be Curious”.
Everyone you meet has something fascinating to share, stories to tell, ideas to mull over. Don’t miss out on opportunities.
Building your Elevator Pitch
We’re not just talking about a physical elevator here: your elevator pitch gives you a way to give your plans and dreams a “lift.” So put down your phone for just a minute and chat with the person in line at the dry cleaners, at the coffee shop, on the plane, in the grocery store or the laundromat. Make your introduction confident and intentional: plot it out and practice it. Indeed.com has some good advice for this, and even more here.
A good elevator pitch starts by introducing yourself and what you do. Next, say something about your goal. You might even end with a question I’ll practice this for you: Here’s what I wrote out.
I’m Reggie Fairchild. I’m a relatively new financial planner professionally. I have been in the business about 18 months, but I’ve been doing this job in a variety of ways for 20 years since before I retired for the first time at age 36. I have managed trusts, advised friends, managed my own retirement, served on corporate boards, done some fundraising, and started several companies. I’ve also seen the wacky ways people’s lives and retirement plans get hijacked by the death of a spouse, withheld inheritances, and insufficient planning.
I went back to school to be able to help more people prepare to align their time, talents, and resources with their goals. I want them to be ready financially for a meaningful retirement AND ready now to weather the ups and downs of life and the markets. I manage more than about $9 million for 8 clients in 4 states and advise on several million more. How can I help you reach your goal?
Practice, Practice, Practice.
Trot out that video camera and practice your spiel. Say it until it becomes second nature. Smile when you say it. Can you tell what’s missing from the video I made?
Ask Questions.
For some more advice on why asking questions is something you should practice throughout your entire life, check out this great speech by Kelly Corrigan:
Elevated Houses often have Elevators
I live on a barrier island where all the houses are elevated out of the flood plain, on stilts so the home is at least 17 feet above sea level. Many houses have elevators to make getting luggage, groceries, and people up to the top floor. We find that having an elevator can also be something to think about in terms of retirement: if you end up with mobility issues, an elevator in a multi level home can help you stay in your home longer as you age, if that is a priority. And in case you missed last week’s post about tides and floods and insurance, you can catch up here.
