Elevator Pitch

So at a bar, one needs to precisely position himself to be able to capitalize on the opportunities. If you are good at dancing, then flaunt your dance skills on the dance floor; good with words, head to places with lighter music (generally smoking areas); with money to flaunt, head to the bar, and buy drinks for girls. I was in the smoking-room chewing gum, and there was a girl standing adjacent to me. She was emanating a distinctly magnetic vibe which might be partly because of her ravishing looks, but mostly because of her carefree self. She was texting someone. I casually asked her, “Didn’t find anyone at the party interesting enough to talk to?”. She looked at me with an amused look. After a few minutes, she asked me whether I have a lighter as she wanted to light a cigarette. I offered her my lighter. She was having a smoke and offered me a drag. I told her that I don’t smoke. She was astonished and inquired as to what I was doing in the smoking-room with a lighter. Trying to keep a straight face, I replied “Content creation”.

As we started conversing, I asked her what she does for a living. She told me that she teaches the kids in a primary school. My spontaneous reaction was “I really look up to you (slight pause). Hope tonight you look up to me as well”. She laughed it off. We immediately hit it off after conversing for a few minutes. After getting acquainted, we exchanged numbers and I headed back to the bar. She stood there chewing the gum.

Coming to the MBA concept of an ‘Elevator Pitch‘. It is a short description of an idea, product, or company that explains the concept in a way such that any listener can understand it in a short period of time. This description typically explains who the thing is for, what it does, why it is needed, and how it will get done. Finally, when explaining an individual person, the description generally explains one’s skills and goals, and why they would be a productive and beneficial person to have on a team or within a company or project. An elevator pitch does not have to include all of these components, but it usually does at least explain what the idea, product, company, or person is and their value.

An elevator pitch can be used to entice an investor or executive in a company or explain an idea to a founder’s parents. The goal is simply to convey the overall concept or topic in an exciting way.

There are a couple of dating insights that can be drawn out from the concept of an elevator pitch. Firstly, establish the credentials that show you are a legit person with a good social presence. The fastest way to do it is by sharing your social media handle; Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or wherever you have the most number of followers, preferably of the opposite gender. Secondly, make the talk contextual so that it portrays the immense value add which you can bring to their life. Thirdly and most importantly, exude supreme self-confidence. In 9 out of 10 cases you will fail but trust me, that one time will be worth a hundred failures.

That brings me to the elevator pitch I made that night in front of the teacher. I texted her later in the night after getting out of the bar. She was out with her friends to grab a bite to eat. I called her up and convinced her to take a detour and invited her over. As we were getting to know each other better, I put on a mashup which was around ten minutes long, and all through was on a high note. The beats were quite fast-paced and we matched every beat of the song. Post sunrise, we got out and drove around for a bit. We went for coffee, then she dropped me back and left for home.

So is this it? ‘We don’t need no education’? Well, certain encounters are best left at a high point with a cherishable memory. Even if a decade down the line, someone asks me about my favorite teacher, my answer won’t be hard to guess. Ironically, she helped me achieve a dream although it involved her looking up to me instead.

Later, Sidhant