Re: What's your FIRST Elevator Pitch?
 

I don't think I have read anything I would disagree with yet, but a couple of things do seem to have been omitted.

When I think of elevator/lift speeches, an opportunity win a convert who can contribute comes to mind. To quickly transform a casual bystander into an investor (of more time, if nothing elses) or a contributor, I think you need to express
1) A compelling need that is pertinent to the listener
2) A feasible way the listener can shift resources to satisfy the need

The need can be keeping kids off the street at night. The need can be putting STEM students into the educational pipeline so that large (and small)businesses/industries/schools don't implode 10 years from now. The need can be giving someone a satisfying hobby. The need can be improving chances at a scholarship.

The resource shift can be converting unused space into a team's build season workshop. The shift can be converting a night of TV watching into a night of teaching students about a STEM topic. The shift can be donating money. The shift can be taking the time to sponsor legislation voters will applaud.

Do your best to assess your audience. Put these two bookends around the other messages in this thread, and then go for it (but don't be too heavy-handed). For the programs to continue growing, we have to continue recruiting people and the resources they can offer. After an elevator speech, your audience should know explicitly why and how they should help.

Blake

Re: What's your FIRST Elevator Pitch?
 

Happy to share examples of materials for training Student Ambassadors. Since many of the components change each year, I don't think it is useful to post them in the white papers.
But I can forward on sample materials to anyone if you send me a PM with your email.

Re: What's your FIRST Elevator Pitch?
 

There is a terrific event happening in Baltimore tonight. Talk about real world experience and why you should spend the time perfecting your elevator pitch!
The Maryland Tech Crawl
http://mdtechcrawl.com/

Re: What's your FIRST Elevator Pitch?
 

One of the blogs I read has a great article on the elevator pitch.
Dumb Little Man

Now that robots have shipped, it's time to pratice your elevator pitch for the judges. You need to grab the judges attention. Pratice that 30 second intro about the team and why your robot is the best at the regional. Select a talking point about your robot that will set you apart. The last thing you need to do is pratice, pratice and pratice.

Re: What's your FIRST Elevator Pitch?
 

One of my favorite questions to ask teams in the pits:

What does FIRST mean to you?


You would be amazed at how many blanks stares I get in return.

Anyone on the team should be able to respond to this question and finding an elevator pitch on this thread is a really good place to start.

We are doing judge training for our teams this weekend. We ask the students the kind of questions they might be asked by a judge in the pits. We explain to them why the judges are there and we will go over the awards being judged. It is simple to do and will really make your team shine when the judges come by.

Good luck teams!

Re: What's your FIRST Elevator Pitch?
 

From Ignite RailsConf in Baltimore.

Ignite events are lightning talks, where 16 speakers each get 5 minutes to talk about a subject they are passionate about, but with a twist: the speaker's slides are automatically advanced every 15 seconds. Ignite's motto is "enlighten us, but be quick about it!"

Here's Joshua Baer's talk, "Five Secrets to a Killer Elevator Pitch" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEd0fjXsk8w