Virtual Assistant Forums | Work from Home

Business Cornerstone Services · #1 (**permalink**) 12-04-2010

We just joined our local Chamber of Commerce and I'm attending a networking meeting on Wednesday.

Each new member has 45 seconds to introduce themselves to the crowd so I'm working on my "elevator pitch"

Normally at these meetings you get 60 seconds so I decided to open with a bit of humor.

I'd appreciate feedback:

"I guess we must be in a recession because normally I get a full minute…
My name is Ian Walters, managing partner of Business Cornerstone Services of Daphne.
We are a business services company that specializes in doing all the boring things that entrepreneurs and small business owners hate doing, including bookkeeping, budgeting, financial analysis, and all the back office support that every business needs.
Through our membership of the Mobile Chamber of Commerce we are looking to help small to medium size companies get on with building their business - safe in the knowledge that the paper work is getting done.
We also help with some of the more exciting things like web site design and maximizing your return on Internet marketing investment.
So, if you don’t like doing the boring work, remember Business Cornerstone Services – we do, so you don’t have to.
Thank you."

For the networking breakfast I've read that you need to be memorable and not just ask the same dumb questions or give the same dull replies to questions like "what do you do?" so I'm thinking along the lines of:

What do you do?

“We stop people getting bored at work and give them free time to enjoy life…”
How?

“we do the bookkeeping, analysis, documentation and anything else that gets in the way of the entrepreneurial business owner.”

Again, feedback appreciated.

Shandon Collins · #2 (**permalink**) 12-05-2010

I really like the intro. It's memorable and to the point. Just make sure to say it a few times out loud to yourself so it gets to be natural and you will be just fine! Good luck to you!

Business Cornerstone Services · #3 (**permalink**) 12-06-2010

Thanks for the feedback.

Yes, I've been stood in front of the mirror trying to get the words and emphasis right and I want to do it "prompt free" as it is such a short time. Fumbling for a cue-card wouldn't inspire confidence.

In my youth I was an actor on stage in front of hundreds of people and my work career has required me to do hundreds of talks, training sessions and facilitation of 3 or 4 day seminars but this 45 second slot could be the make or break of our company.

Where is the emoticon for "nervous"?

Shandon Collins · #4 (**permalink**) 12-06-2010

Just think "red leather, yellow leather" LOL. Ah the days of acting, I miss them so. Nervous emoticon --> :geepers: haha. I definitely was nervous my first time in a business to business networking meeting. I was doubly nervous because I am pretty young and many of the members of this groups were VERY well established and basically veterans in their own businesses (with a lot of connections might I add) and I knew that this 30 sec spot could make or break me. At the end of the day, practice makes perfect as you very well know and like others in the forum have alluded to, know one knows more about your business and how you can help others more than you! I hope that everything goes great for you! Keep us posted! Having an outgoing personality in these cases can definitely help you out! I'm sure you will shine brightly!