I can name that song in two words...

I like this short post from Mike over at ConverStations called Porch Your Elevator Pitch. In it he encourages us to get to the essence of what we are trying to do. His example:

Elevator Pitch: If Knowledge is Power and Time is Money, think of Content Feeds as a way to gain Knowledge without wasting Time.

Porch Pitch: Gain Knowledge. Save Time.

I think is a good thing to zoom in - like a laser - on the impact you seek. Or the process you want to personify. Or the outcomes you want to produce.

But wait a minute - how does this jive with my earlier advice about setting goals where I suggested ADDING detail? Here's a reminder example from that post:

• Fair: I want to build strength so I can enjoy my trip.
• Good: I am really looking forward to exploring the open road with Hazel, my motorcycle. I have never driven the bike every day for six weeks. I am also looking forward to doing this trip solo and look forward to learning a lot about myself, this country, and the people I meet. This trip will require planning and preparation, including ensuring that I have the upper and lower body strength needed to enjoy daily rides of 3-5 hours. I do not want to be in constant pain or need to take breaks every 30 minutes. To prepare, I am going to increase my weight training and build my strength - especially in my back and upper body.
• Great: I am really looking forward to exploring the open road with Hazel, my motorcycle. I have never driven the bike every day for six weeks. I am also looking forward to doing this trip solo and look forward to learning alot about myself, this country, and the people I meet. This trip will require planning and preparation, including ensuring that I have the upper and lower body strength needed to enjoy daily rides of 3-5 hours. I also want to have the energy needed to spend afternoons and evenings talking with and connecting to people. I do not want to be in constant pain or need to take breaks every 30 minutes while riding. To prepare, I am going to increase my weight training and build my strength - especially in my back and upper body. I am going to take on living strong each day - eating foods that make me strong, and organizing my day to show priority for building strength. And I will value little, directionally correct actions like taking the stairs instead of the elevator and adding one more set to my weightlifting regimen. Little is big. A day lived strong is a good day. Each week I will reflect on my progress and celebrate strength.

Here's the distinction of where and how to use these expressions of desire (Does this word "desire" strike you as odd here? Our goals are our desires - or they should be on the level of a desire.). The essence of my goal above, what Mike calls the porch pitch, is simple - be strong. This is a great rallying phrase for me to repeat and on which I can focus. For this two word mantra to mean anything - for it to have the same hair raising, chilling impact as the long version, the long version must exist. Until we connect with our goals on a sensual level - smell, touch, sight, sound, and taste - the mantra will be hollow - just a pretty package. Going through the work to create amazing goals facilitates this connection process.

But once you have the connection the mantra is like a big wad of crisp 100 dollar bills - as good as the gold they are supposed to represent (I know, the gold is not really there any more, but you get my point).

Comments

[Mike Sansone]

Good stuff, Lisa! And a great porch pitch will get others to invite you inside to explain more - and that's where the long version gets extended.

Be Strong! And continue to be contagious with your strength!

[Lisa Haneberg]

Mike - yes, that's a good point, the short version can be the catalyst for going deeper - either with others or ourselves.