Because I do dive into crazy tasks when I already have way too much to do, it is only natural that I dive into ProBlogger’s challenge to build a better blog in 31 days.
The challenge of the first day is to write an elevator pitch.
Ugh. This is not a business blog. However, as “we all know”, your online presence is used by people to form an opinion of what you do and who you are. I have lived in the virtual world for many years, meaning, I have participated in discussion lists online for many years and I have a website where I can post whatever I choose to post. I did freelance several years ago, and then my website was a business site. Now, it is just me.
How do you say “I am me” in an elevator pitch and not sound like a fool?
Elevator pitches are supposed to be what you can manage to tell someone about yourself while traveling between a few floors in an elevator. They are “trapped” in the elevator with you for those seconds, so what can you say to explain your business to them in that short time?
If I want to “be me” in those moments, I need to be me all the time. I think about my approach to studying when I was in school (which I did not always practice). I studied and attended classes throughout the term. I couldn’t cram everything into my head the night before. Instead, I tried to get a good night’s sleep before the exam. I figured that if I was well-rested, the knowledge that had managed to settle in my brain would surface when needed, and the exam would show how much had settled.
The same with life.
If I am being myself, that will be reflected when I get into that so-called elevator. The “myself” will shine through. It may or may not be appreciated.
The problem is that I actually don’t know who that “myself” is at times. I am interested in many, many things. Perhaps I spread myself too thin across too many areas of interest. I have been called an institution, a walking encyclopedia, and so on and so forth. Saying that would sound awfully snooty. Some days, I am flattered by those descriptions. Some days, I am offended and feel like people don’t truly know me.
This blogging project is an opportunity to practice something I truly love: writing. That is partly why I am participating. When I saw this first assignment, I contemplated dropping out immediately. Instead, I think I will use it as a means to find out who that “myself” is.
In the meantime, people can cherish my silence if they are in an elevator with me. 🙂
Karen
I don’t think I have an elevator pitch for myself either. I have found that the most interesting people to know, to converse with, to travel with, and to have on your Trivia team, are those who have many diverse skills, experience, and interests. They’re never bored, always curious, always eager to learn something new, and always taking others with them. You may have to keep trying for that elevator pitch, but I know you will at least enjoy the things you discover while you’re looking for it!
Hi Margaret
Thanks for your kind comments and for stopping by. My mom taught me that learning is something you do all your life. It is not contained in the classroom. As I search for my elevator pitch – or what I want to do when I grow up! – I am definitely having fun learning.
Hmm. “Having fun learning – and living” wouldn’t be such a crazy elevator pitch. 🙂
What a lovely portfolio — which is to say, it contains whatever you want 🙂 Sometimes I feel very constrained in my own blogging, and get my knickers in a twist about what I cannot say (because of work, or because it would just be so far off-topic as to potentially alienate people who came there for the work stuff). So I am envious, in a way.
Of course, I guess the flip-side of this is that with no constraints, sometimes it’s hard to be creative in a focused way. Artificial constraints can be helpful, I guess (43 Folders does quite a lot on this).
Trust me, Chris, I get my knickers in a twist about my writing all the time. I am learning more and more that you have to trust your own voice, but I am still slow to embrace that. Hanging out with cool, daring people helps a bit.
Focus? What is that, pray tell? 🙂 You did save me with the GTD dash the other day, however. I also have Peter Elbow’s “Writing With Power” (have read 1/2), which has a good constraint in it. Imagine you have 1 hour to write. If I recall correctly, you write non-stop for 30 minutes, hopping back and forth as necessary. You start editing at the 30-minute mark. Review at the 45-min. mark, and basically do a Zeno’s paradox type chopping up of the time to get things done after 60 minutes (without hitting the paradox that plagued Zeno!)
After spouting all this pseudo-wisdom, I must get a few blog posts written. They hide in draft form on my computer where no one can see how imperfect they are! 😉