My colleague peers over my shoulder and his jaw drops.
“How do you do that?”
I continue typing, not sure what he’s talking about.
But – that is what he’s talking about – the speed of my typing.
I’ll never be sure what inspired me to take a touch typing class in fourth grade.
It’s was an unusual elective, and not at all what you’re imagining.
We used typewriters.
Electric typewriters, but typewriters nonetheless.
Computers, at least desktop computers, wouldn’t be available for another four years.
Which meant that, when those computers arrived, I was already very quick at communicating with them.
My fellow computer programmers were stuck at about half my typing speed.
And it gets me thinking about your Elevator Pitch.
Because it’s a big advantage when people quickly understand what you do.
Please, though, don’t start talking faster.
Speed in business networking isn’t about words per minute.
Speed in business networking is about one concept per encounter.
Such as the
… mortgage broker for foreign nationals
… printer who handles logistics for training manuals
… scientist who builds research platforms for assay development
The specifics help other people spot good opportunities for you.
It pigeon-holes you in the right way – the way that makes you memorable.
I know thousands of mortgage brokers, but only one that focuses on foreign nationals.
Specialization is memorable.
It starts conversations.
It leads to leads.
So be clear and concise.
Focus on specifics.
Speed up your business networking.
I stopped programming computers almost 20 years ago.
My typing speed – it still helps with my writing.
How quickly do you communicate?