By Colin DeKuiper

The elevator pitch: the hypothetical situation where you find yourself in an elevator with someone that you want to work with, and you have only the time it takes to travel a few floors to introduce yourself, your value, and a proposition.

Of course, you may never actually find yourself in a literal elevator, but there are plenty of instances where it’s helpful to be able to summarize yourself – either to a stranger at a party, a potential employer at a job interview, or even with an in-law at a family get together.

If ever you have a short amount of time to present yourself to someone, here are some things to keep in mind.

The perfect elevator pitch describes:

• Who you are
• What you do
• What makes you and what you do unique
• How you do it and who it may affect

Here are some key things to keep in mind:

• Make it flexible, but know those key elements listed above intimately.
• Use the pitch as a conversation starter, not a monologue.
• Use your pitch to ask a question to the person you’re pitching. Questions are what make the pitch a conversation.
• Be yourself. In all cases and contexts.
• Be concise. Less is more!
• Parties, concerts, exhibitions, family functions, etc. All are great practice arenas of the “pitch.”