i used to hate this question.
“well im kind of a rapping lifecoach with an interest in comedy and martial arts, but right now i work in sales and i kind of like to think of myself as an entrepreneur whose branching out into public speaking and writing.. but i really dont like to put myself in a box yknow – how about yourself”
this is a networkers nightmare. the rules are simple. work out what you can offer people and formulate that into a simple statement. often the people with the best brands are the ones who do one thing well and know how to communicate it to others (and stick to it).
but im not a brand gary – im a person! i hear you. for many of us its getting increasingly difficult to explain what we do because we dont even know.
“does this really matter?” i hear you ask. well it depends. are you trying to make money? or build a fanbase, client base or other kind of following
(things you will want to do if you dont want to work a day job forever)
if so it is kind of important to cut the bullshit and put yourself “gasp”
into a category.
ultimately this only seems like a big deal if were too attached to
who we think we are (yep i can go from marketing talk to buddhist philosophy in a paragraph or two) these descriptions of ourself arent the sum total of who we are.
nowadays heres how i handle that question:
1. well im a rapper and spoken word artist – mostly inspired by blah blah
2. well im a sales and business coach, i mostly work with people just
emerging into business and help them sell them selves more effectively
3. well im a writer and speaker, i mostly write about blah blah blah
in other words the best thing you can do is prepare multiple ‘elevator
pitches’ depending whether your talking to a 50 year old business man,
a hot girl in a bar or an aspiring musician. At the end of the day its not so much about who you are as what do you have to offer…
Good post mate, completely agree as I too have struggled with this question on occasion. It is all about who you are talking with and what you are trying to achieve in that particular interaction. If it’s a casual chat then the pressure is off but when networking (depending on your approach this could be considered always!) it is advisable to have a game plan like the examples you have given.
Great post mate, I have read your blog throughout and particularly liked the last entry where you stated “You are who you need to be, right now”. I have added this to my ever growing affirmations and inspirations collection (I want to release my own compendium of these one day) among illustrious company like Tony Robbins, Brian Tracy and T Harv Eker!
Cool, A
Awesome Adrian I’m glad you liked – that is some impressive company indeed!
(havent read much Brian Tracey actually but Awaken the Giant Within and Secrets of the Millionaire mind are regular revisits on my bookshelf!)
It seems to be a common scenario amongst much of the more productive of our generation “yes i play golf, write books, tap dance and collect badgers etc” i’ve been coaching a lot of people around branding and how they communicate who they are lately. Course every now and then its good to forget about the whole marketing angle and just be a person too. Im thinking ill write something about the Demartini Breakthough Experience after its all done – i have a few friends who’re curious about it too!
peace
Gary.