Monday, July 07, 2008

Seven Seconds: Dr. Ron's first podcast

[The following is the script for my first podcast. It should be available on iTunes soon -- if anyone will want it. LOL]

I'm Dr. Ron Graham, and this is start me up! volume 1, number 1.

Seven seconds.

That's all the time you get. Just seven seconds. In that time, you have to convince someone who could change your life that you have something to say that's worth listening to just a bit longer.

Why is it only seven seconds?

That life-changing person, the one you just met totally by chance?
  • may be walking out of a crowd and toward a car
  • may be on an elevator and about to get off – that's why many people call this an "elevator pitch"
  • may be heading into a meeting
  • may be about to meet someone else
What do you have to say to those life-changers? It's all about what you want for yourself out of that chance meeting.
  • If you want to be hired, you have to tell them "here's why you should hire me."
  • If you want to be funded, you have to tell them "here's what my program gives you."
  • If you want to work on a project together, you have to tell them "here's what I have that you need."
They come from out of nowhere, these people. Or it seems that way, anyway. The reality is that you are preparing for them, every day. If you want to meet someone who can change your life, you are spending each day becoming more of the person you need to be to get their attention. Part of becoming that person is you knowing who you are and what you stand for so well that you can say it off the top of your head – no nervousness, no mistakes.

If you’ve done the work and prepared your seven-second "elevator pitch," and the first time you meet a life-changer the pitch doesn't work, that's fine. Get ready for the next one. There’ll be a next one. Trust me.

But if that pitch DOES work, that's something else. What happens next? Here's the order of events.
  • They'll give you 30 seconds more to explain. Then your seven seconds must grow into 30, and must add value.
  • They'll take something – one thing – that you give them. Make sure that one thing is no longer than a page, and that it has your contact info.
  • They'll accept a phone call. But they should know the call's coming. That means it might take more than one try.
  • They'll take a meeting with you. If they take the phone call, your chances are good. You'll spend the phone call trying to convince them that the meeting is a good idea.
  • Who knows what can happen after that?
Here's a sample that I use: I bring light and clarity to young entrepreneurs.

Like to read more? I recommend Ben Casnocha's My Start-up Life.

For this podcast, I was my own producer – we'll see how long THAT lasts. The music is "Jesse," from "Look What We Did," by the New Romantics. I use this space to promote young artists as well. Let me know if you’d like to know more about the New Romantics. [Thanks to Anthony Thompson of Juterphusion for fixing me up with the music!]

This has been start me up! volume 1, number 1, and I'm Dr. Ron Graham – I've been your host. If you'd like to contact me, the e-mail address is rongraham01 AT gmail DOT com. I'll spotlight you or your start-up if you'd like. Just ask me how. Until next time, keep moving forward!

Labels: ,

posted by Ron @ 9:28 PM

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home