Developing a Personal Elevator Pitch…

A Letter From A Therapist: Issue 9

It’s a new year so let’s mix things up a bit! Rather than your friendly neighborhood therapist offering insights and education on a particular topic, I’d like to invite you to implement a therapeutic tool this quarter. The intervention in question is one I’ve assigned to many clients over the years: developing your own personal “elevator pitch”. This is a great exercise that can be implemented frequently in the span of one’s lifetime so why not explore it at the start of a fresh new year?

Now to begin, let’s consider what an elevator pitch is. An elevator pitch is a brief and understandable explanation of a particular topic. The topic in question for this exercise is you! The goal is to develop a short but intriguing and compelling summary of who you are in all of your uniqueness. Tell it in story format, or even as a speech. The content of this could include basic facts such as your identity as it relates to those closest to you (i.e. parent, partner, sibling, etc.), your vocation/career goals, past achievements, etc. It can also include unique and authentic facts such as your fun quirky traits, passions, interests/hobbies, or future hopes for yourself. This should be a brief opportunity to present how you see yourself in a positive light. If you’re getting stuck, one way to hone in on significant data about yourself is to consider your value systems. You could also ask those around you what they see as your positive traits - you might be surprised by the impressive observations others make about us.

Now that we have an idea of how to complete this exercise, we want to consider why we would bother doing it (aside from the obvious benefit of expressive writing). Consider what circumstances a personal elevator pitch might be useful in. You may find that if you are a career driven individual, much of what you choose to express could be easily translated into a job interview or cover letter. If you’re more invested in social growth then practicing your pitch for networking events, gatherings, or even first dates would be a wonderful use. It can also be helpful when considering where you feel as though improvements can be made in a constructive fashion.

So, get to it! Write a few drafts and keep it relatively short - aim for it to be about 30 seconds. Take some time and conceptualize what you want others to know about you. You’ll be surprised how positive this exercise can allow you to feel. We all bring unique accomplishments, traits, and idiosyncrasies to our environments. Be proud of who you are and practice telling it to others. Recite your elevator pitch in front of a mirror, record it, or type it up and put it where you’ll see it often. If you are struggling to find the time to sit down and write it out in length then break it up. There are no rules for how this needs to develop as long as it does.

Trust me, you’ll appreciate taking the time to prioritize this exercise!

Best Regards,

Amanda J. Nowak, LPC, LMHC

January 14, 2023