Your Handshake Speech

"The world cares very little about what a man or woman knows; it is what a man or woman is able to do that counts."

- Booker T. Washington

We live in a fast paced world. Few people have the time to listen to a stranger more than ten seconds after they are introduced to peak their interest to continue the conversation. You must develop a ten second "pitch" that tells a person your message; what you do and how your product or service is unique and able to help them. All in ten seconds.

The more succinct you make your message, the better it will be and the more likely that it will make an impression on your listeners. The purpose of your message should be just enough to catch your audience's attention. It is your verbal business card to be given every time you meet someone new.

Your message should be a grabber that makes people want more information about you and your product or service. If it's short and grabs their attention, it gave you the opportunity to build the conversation about your business. In ten seconds your message must explain: (1) who you are (2) what you represent, and (3) why you make a difference.

Most people are not accustomed to promoting themselves, they don't know what to say or what they do say is understated or ineffective. Practice your message and make it second nature for you to recite on a split seconds notice.

Determine what qualities you have that make you a star and what features does your product or service have that makes it groundbreaking. Write a message that will captivate the media to send your message for you. Let them make you famous.

· When developing your message, some things to take in account are:

· What is most interesting or unusual about you and your business?

· What makes it memorable?

· How did you get into this business?

· What about it excites you most?

· What are your strengths?

· What do you provide for people that know you and your business?

· What motivates you?

· What's on your drawing board?

· What makes people stop, listen and especially say "WOW"?