The Elevator Speech

During Project Gideon, Bishop Jakes referred often to our "Brand." He said that we all need to think about ours and how it needs to be better developed. The Brand, he says, helps us--and others--to know who we are, what makes us unique, what we offer, and what we feel we were put on this earth to accomplish.

He brought in one of his staff from PR and she talked to us about having an "Elevator Speech" ready--because at any given moment, we might need to utilize it. An Elevator Speech is a 30-second speech that you develop beforehand to say to a captive audience when given the opportunity. Obviously, at one time, these were used to literally "pitch" an idea to an audience whose ear you had for just a few moments of time.

The truth is that it is very rare, indeed, to be able to get a two-hour long session with someone to explain what it is--or why it is--you do what you do; additionally, it is equally unfeasible to get that kind of an opportunity with someone who can really ASSIST you or bring your God-given vision to life. But we might get a span of time equal to that of an elevator ride. So we must be READY when the Lord puts a 30-second opportunity in front of us.

You don't get an hour. You don't get to use an outline or Powerpoint. It's you and the opportunity. So what do you say?

Eight Things that MUST be true of Elevator Speeches:

1. They must not be verbose. (Wasting words is wasting time.)

2. They must be as direct as possible, with very little--if any--exposition or apologetics. (If the person we're talking to asks for follow-up, we can then attempt to explain further--or answer any questions he/she may have.)

3. They must, it seems to me, argue some point--or the validity of something that should be considered. And all of this must be done without the benefit of question/answer or feedback and/or a bibliography.

4. They must consider the demographics of the perceived audience, so as to seem as relevant and as "balanced" as possible.

5. They REQUIRE that a speaker DIGS DEEP. To formulate an Elevator Speech, each person must spend time in prayer and reflection to be able to deduce what EXACTLY needs to be said and nothing else.

6. They need to be rehearsed.

7. They need to be prayed over and continually developed. (These should be in a constant state of "Under Construction.")

8. Each person may need more than one.*

(*A forthcoming blog will address this thesis of mine!)

As for myself, I plan to start working on three specific Elevator Speeches. They are the three I feel I am most often called on to say.

The first will be called THE GOSPEL. It will talk about what Jesus Christ has done in my life and how that has impacted my story.

The second will be about THE CALL TO MINISTRY. It will discuss what I believe God has called me to do in ministry.

The third will be about VISION. It will discuss what I feel has been birthed in my spirit for the future, and for future events.

(I am really looking forward to this, to getting started!)