What If Your Pants Were On Backward?

If you went to a party and saw a friend wearing their pants backward, would you tell them?  What if it were you with the backward pants? Would you want someone to tell you? And if they did, how would you respond? Would you be angry for the criticism or thankful for the observation? Would you tell yourself, “This is how I’ve always worn them,” and move on? Would you change your pants but put them on the same way, or would you consider the input and ask for advice?

Growing your business demands exploring every possible opportunity to introduce yourself. But more chances to share your message create more chances to send the wrong message. Publishing content with misspelled or misused words…stumbling through an elevator speech that’s unprepared or unfocused…giving a presentation with more “um’s,” “like’s,” and “you know’s” than anyone can count…these are all very much like wearing your pants the wrong way. You may not realize it, but everyone else does. And what it says about you and your business will always overshadow your message.

Whatever your business, it’s crucial to evaluate your message and your delivery to make sure you’re standing out like a superstar, and not sticking out like a sore thumb.  Because the last thing you want to be is the person everyone’s talking about for all the wrong reasons.

The Wordsmith Can Help
If you’d like to review your messaging, I’d love to help! Drop me a message or give me a ring (920-540-3551), and let’s see what we can do to shape your story into one people love to hear and can’t wait to share.

Reason #1 to Ditch the Pitch: convincing vs. connecting

We love buying things, but hate being sold things.  We go shopping looking for stuff to buy, but we tell the persistent salesperson to leave us alone.  We like searching the web for information, but we cringe when online ads and pop-ups search for us.  We enjoy the idea of getting something, but we hate the prospect of being told what we “must have.”

Too often, we answer the question, “What do you do?” with a pitch…a carefully planned, diligently memorized, rapidly recited commercial that we hope, if delivered properly, will generate a sale.  We itemize what we sell rather than illustrate what we offer.  We focus on building awareness instead of creating interest.   We try to impress rather than engage.

In a world where advertisers are continually trying to get us to do, try, or buy something, there’s no benefit to telling people you’re the Grand Poobah of United Widgets Incorporated, makers of the world’s top-rated gold-standard gadgets and gizmos, located at the intersection of So-What Street and Who-Gives-A-Crap Boulevard.  If you really want people to respond to your message, it’s time to trade the commercial that tries to convince for an introduction that strives to connect.  It’s time to ditch the pitch!