Playing the Game

Life is a game with a glorious prize,
If we can only play it right.
It is give and take, build and break,And often it ends in a fight;
But he surely wins who honestly tries
(Regardless of wealth or fame),
He can never despair who plays it fair
How are you playing the game?

Do you wilt and whine, if you fail to win
In the manner you think your due?
Do you sneer at the man in case that he can
And does, do better than you?
Do you take your rebuffs with a knowing grin?
Do you laugh tho’ you pull up lame?
Does your faith hold true when the whole world’s blue?
How are you playing the game?

Get into the thick of it – wade in, boys!
Whatever your cherished goal;
Brace up your will till your pulses thrill,
And you dare to your very soul!
Do something more than make a noise;
Let your purpose leap into flame
As you plunge with a cry, “I shall do or die,”
Then you will be playing the game.

The Elevator Speech

The Elevator Speech

Your elevator speech is arguably the most important piece of public speaking you’ll ever do.
It’s key, because it’s a short description you could give about your company in the time it takes to ride an elevator. It must be…

1. Brief
2. Easily understood
3. Memorable

The key here is to craft a clear and memorable speech.
The other key is to have it ready, memorable, memorized, clear, and concise.

It takes some decision-making to decide what to leave in and what to take out of your elevator pitch.  The biggest mistake is to take too literally the question ” what do you do?”…. then try to answer that question in too much detail.

Your elevator pitch must be short, brief and should touch very briefly on the products and services you sell and what market you serve, as well as your competitive advantage.  This USP, or unique selling point, should describe briefly what one unique thing your company does better than anyone else.

So go home and sit down and craft your elevator pitch.  That way you’ll be completely prepared the next time someone asks you…” what do you do?”

When a person asks you, “What do you do?” do you know what to say back? Do you have an Elevator Speech prepared for just such an occasion?

An Elevator Speech is a short, concise speech that you can use to answer just such a question. It is called an Elevator Speech because it is a description of your company that takes the same about of time as riding an elevator. It is arguably the most important speech you should have prepared as there will be many times in your day that you will only have a short amount of time to explain to someone what you do or what your company does.

There are three things to remember when crafting your Elevator Speech: make it brief, make it easily understood and make it memorable.

It takes time and good decision making when crafting your Elevator Speech. One of the biggest pit falls is taking the question, “What do you do?” too literally. This eventually makes you add too much detail, which ultimately makes the speech too long and no longer able to be used on an elevator ride!

Being brief is the best thing you can do. Plus, being brief also makes it easier for you to memorize, making the speech come out smoothly and unrehearsed. Think about leaving a flavor in the person’s mouth that will make them come back for more. Touch on the products and services that you sell, what market you serve and your competitive advantage, but don’t give too much away. If you hit a nerve, they’ll come back. End with your Unique Selling Point, or USP, which should describe the one unique thing your company does better than anyone else. And, of course, always have a business card to hand to them just as the elevator doors are opening!

Don’t let another day go by without having your Elevator Speech ready. Write it, review it and practice it on friends or family. That way, you’ll be ready the next time the person next to you asks, “So, what do you do?”

The 12 Essentials of Non-verbal Communication

1. Make an entrance
2. Walk tall, even if you’re short
3. Smile
4. Enter with a purpose
5. Make eye contact
6. Give a great handshake
7. Think before you sit
8. Convey a relaxed energy
9. Use your head and face
10. Use your hands
11. Communicate with clothes
12. Learn to use your voice…