Every now and then, someone is going to ask you about yourself, and when they do, what are you going to say? When it’s about you, you need to be prepared with what to say and have it so well ingrained that you know that every time you answer this question, the recipient will be receiving the same answer. This level of consistency shows you are reliable, prepared, and confident.
You are going to need 2 versions of what you say about yourself. The long version is only a 90-second-long life story introduction about you. The other is your 20-30-second elevator pitch which is basically your greatest hits that will primarily feature what you are doing today.
Before you begin, you should do a quick personal inventory of yourself. Get an idea of who you are and what you want to accomplish. You should make a set of three lists and are 1 – Key Life Points, 2 – Gifts & Abilities, and 3 – What You Want. For a more complete list, see: Get to Know Yourself.
1 Key Life Points
Here you are going to make a list of the things that have happened in your past that have shaped who you are. Where are you from? What experiences have helped to give your character depth? What challenges have you faced? How did you handle the challenges you faced?
2 Gifts & Abilities
These are those special skills that you have, that others find fascinating, but you are likely to take for granted because they come so easily to you. These are your strengths, your superpowers. These are innate skills for divine gifts that you are responsible for sharing with others.
3 What You Want
This is the purpose or are the things that you want to bring to the forefront, right now, that you want to be recognized for, or want others to be able to hear your voice about.
-
-
- Do you have something to say?
- Do you want to be an expert in your field?
- Do you want to teach something to others?
- Do you want to help someone? If so, whom?
- Do you want to share your gifts or abilities? If so, which one(s)?
- Do you want to communicate something that means a great deal to you?
- Can your experience(s) benefit others and possibly prevent unnecessary challenges or suffering for others?
- What do you want to be known for?
-
This list will provide you with the key points that you want to start making a part of your presentation as you walk through life, every day. Ask yourself,
How Can I Integrate My Message into My Life?
This is where what you want to accomplish is congruent with who you are, your Purpose, Message, Passion, and Mission become a part of your being.
With this information, you are ready to start crafting your 90-second Life Story and your 20-30-second Elevator Pitch (Here are 7 Simple Steps to Create Your Elevator Pitch). Try to include something from every list, even if it’s only one thing. Take your time writing it, memorizing it, and reciting it, so that when someone asks you about yourself, you will be prepared.
When it’s about you, based on the situation, you will know whether it will be appropriate for the 90-second version or the 30-second version. After that, you can converse with a freestyle flow about any gaps that might be of interest to the person that you are talking to or visiting.