Ready, Set, Pitch: How To Master Your Elevator Pitch

The elevator opens and “Opportunity” walks in. It’s the chance of a lifetime. But that chance only lasts as long as the elevator ride – you have less than a minute to make an impression.

Always be prepared.

How do you explain yourself, your goals, your business, your passions? The things only YOU know.

A good pitch takes practice. It’s quick, on the spot, and full of pressure. Are you ready? If the one person you needed to convince gave you ONE MINUTE, could you keep their attention, could you keep them wanting more?

It’s not just what you say but how you say it.

Here are a few tips to help you master your pitch.

Elevator Pitch Builder

• Describe Who You Are – Pitch yourself, not your ideas
  • Keep it short
  • What do you want the listener to remember about you?
• Describe What You Do
  • State your value. Allow your listener to understand how you add value.
• Describe What Makes You Unique
  • Your listener wants to know what you do better than others and how it can benefit their business.
• Describe Your Goal
  • Your goals should be concrete and realistic

Average Pitch Stats: 231 Words, 56 sec Pitch Length, 4 Repeated Words

If you need more help here are few websites to reference:

elevatorpitchexamples.com

mindtools.com

yourelevatorpitch.com

Coffee is for Closers

After watching Alec Baldwin perform this scene over and over again, I finally understood what he meant. Coffee Is for Closers, meaning you don’t rest until you close the deal. Nowadays we use the word “Grinding” too loosely. We’re more in love with the idea of hard work, than actually working hard to get what we want.  Nothing worth having comes easy!

I learned the essence of hard work during my college years. I didn’t have the best college experience for MANY reasons (this isn’t the time or place) but I did gain life skills. I worked my ass off! While maintaining a 3.6 GPA, I successfully completed 12 internships during my undergraduate career.

While participating in summits, internships, and fellowships with other students from around the country, I realized that I wasn’t in competition with the students I went to school with. I was competing with EVERY student in the world who graduated May 2011 with a career interest in Marketing/Advertising. That’s where my dedication and determination to be successful took off.

Everyone’s moment will be different, and you must realize no matter how much one person might motivate you, they can’t give you ambition. Ambition comes from within. You either have it or you’ll be watching someone who has it live out their dreams. You have to come into your own…

“Those who want success should think like a planter. They should understand that having the right seed is an essential key to success, but they must also understand that the soil that they entrust to the seed is just as vital… Can you honestly say the environment(s) you are in will yield the kind of harvest you are expecting?” – Eric Thomas

Coffee is for closers.                                                               

Success doesn’t sleep, are you awake?

The Hunt: My Story

Landing your dream job is one of the greatest feelings ever. The more and more I highlight individuals embarking upon success, I hope it motivates you to seize every opportunity. Every Moment Matters!

Find out how Erica Hilton stayed patient, never settled, and ended up getting an awesome jumpstart to her Career, in the industry of her choice.

I decided to Re-Blog this update from Erica because I want my followers to journey with her as well.  I hope that while you’re on your path to finding, conquering living out your dreams remember to Be Courageous, Persistent, Curious, and Open Minded.

“I don’t believe there’s a set formula for success. However, I do believe that there are a few equations that will bring you closer to the finish line.”

Join us as we congratulate Erica, “The Hunt” is over!

The day that I received my job offer (my #1 pick might I add!), I was talking with a friend about how I couldn’t believe that my job hunt was actually over. In the end, I earned two job offers! No more applications! No more interviews! No more waiting! What a relief!!

My 4-month journey for not just any job, but the perfect job for me was nothing like I imagined. It wasn’t just hard; it was way more than that. It took a lot of creativity, networkingand advice from mentors and people who were in my position not too long ago. Let me not forget to mention a whole lot of praying! Throughout my entire search, I was still interning full time. It was exhausting, but somehow I was able to do it. My friend suggested that I share my experience with you on my blog. Not because in the end I…

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My Dream Job: Meet Kéla Walker | NY Emmy Nominated TV Host & Award Winning Producer

With style and grace, Kéla Walker, a small town girl from North Carolina is making BIG Girl moves in The Big Apple. The Emmy nominated TV Host/Producer has a special place in my heart. I met Kéla in April of this year. Prior to meeting her, I admired her determination, her success, and her personality via Twitter for quite some time. I knew that us meeting would not be in vain. Aside from being an amazing TV/Red Carpet Host, Style Suite Contributor for Black Enterprise, and a Fashion Blogger; she has a big heart

Enter Kéla ‘s Kloset, find out how she Landed Her Dream Job:

HILMDJ: What Was Your Initial Career Goal? How has that changed from what you are currently doing?

Kéla : Initially, it was my desire to be a daytime producer and work on talk shows and maybe soap operas. Good thing I didn’t take the soap opera route considering they are all long gone with the exception of one. I started off producing original programming for a local NYC network and then the hosting thing fell in my lap. I was reluctant at first but as I was required to do it more and more, I grew to love and embrace it. Now I realize it’s a skill and a blessing that I’m so thankful for. It has been a great way for me to engage with a wide variety of people and to provide a good image of black women in media for younger generations.

HILMDJ: How Did You Get Started?

Kéla : In highschool, I knew I wanted to do something different and nontraditional, if you will. In my senior year of high school the idea of television came to me and got me thinking about that career field. I ended up attending a university that did not have a television or media program so I made up for it in other ways. I interned during the summer at various television networks and applied for programs that catered to the craft. Ultimately, it was my knowledge outside of the classroom that helped me get my foot in the door which speaks to the nature of this business n that its important to be knowledgeable and have insight to multiple things.

HILMDJ: What tips or advice would you give to individuals looking to break into this industry?

Kéla: It sounds so cliche but do what you love. Have a clear goal of what that is and go after it.

You hear people say all the time that hard work got them where they are and it’s so true. The hosting thing fell in my lap but it’s the hard work that kept it there and gained me an Emmy nomination shortly there after. Do what you love and look for opportunities to get paid for it. If you don’t see the opportunities, create them.

HILMDJ: What keeps Kéla grounded?

Kéla: I feel extremely blessed to be living and working my dream job. I’m just a girl from a small town in North Carolina that dared to dream for a job in television and my career is a testimony that God’s dreams for you are so much bigger than you can ever imagine. How can I not be grounded with HIS favor and grace. I’m just so thankful

My mother used to tell me “never be satisfied, once you get satisfied you will never strive for anything more”. Needless to say I’m constantly striving for more. I love the phrase “Stay ready so you can be ready”. It’s the truest thing to live and work by. When opportunity knocks, you want to make sure can open that door and be ready to receive all that it has to offer.

Kéla, you’ve definitely inspired me to continue to strive and run after my dreams.

To keep up with Kéla and all of her Red Carpet interviews, visit KelaWaker.com or follow her on Twitter @KelaWalker

Also, be sure to enter Kéla’s Kloset by visiting KelasKloset.com, get the inside scoop on her Wardrobe, Fashion Hauls, and you don’t want to miss out on her awesome Product Giveaways

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…this is How Kéla Landed Her Dream Job!

My Dream Job | Meet Denise “Nikki Panache” Gregory, The Female Haberdasher

A Haberdasher is a dealer in men’s fashion, well Nikki Panache is a female dealer. The Blogger/Bow Tie Designer who’s love her writing has her excited to begin Law School next fall.

“My initial goal was to move to NYC and become a journalist,” explains Nikki. Freelancer by day, Designer by night. Nikki started out designing bow ties as a hobby, and then she turned her hobby into a profit, a very stylish profit.

“This started out as a small gesture that grew into a business all in a matter of months. I love it because I can pour my creative energy into my bow ties. It nurtures the visual arts me. I consider my ties to be small works of fashionable art,” Nikki explains how she got started making bow ties, “the favor that paid.”

Nikki on achieving ultimate career happiness, “I’ve not yet arrived to the moment of complete transparency especially with sharing the stories that have helped shaped me into a writer, an independent thinker, and a courageous spirit. While I’ve shared some, there’s still so much I continue to guard. Yet I know that once I relinquish those stories that I’ve reached MY ultimate career happiness. Ultimate career happiness varies from person-to-person and can be determined when evaluating personal growth. It depends on the person and what really makes them happy. It’s truly personal even though it relates to a professional career.”

To learn more about Nikki Panache and her journey toward career happiness check out her blog NikkiPanache.com or follow her on Twitter @NikkiPanache

If you want to purchase some of her stylish bow ties (men and women) check out her designs @FemaleHaberdash. Learn how to get your custom bow tie’s here thefemalehaberdasher.etsy.com

I’m happy to announce The Female Haberdasher will be giving away a bow tie to one lucky reader. Be sure to subscribe to HowILandedMyDreamJob.com, you don’t want to miss out. Details on this give away will come at a later date.

This is how Nikki Panache created her Dream Job!

My Dream Job | Meet Ashleigh Thornton Founder of Noire Naturals

How does one Full-time student,  Intern, and Entrepreneur do it? Meet Ashleigh Thornton, she’s only 21!

As we know, the Natural Hair Craze has turned been a movement rather than a journey of embracing African-American natural beauty. Going natural is an experience, not a movement.  One young lady in Charlotte, landed her dream job by creating Noire Naturals.

Noire Naturals, the 100% all natural hair care products for the kinky, curly, wavy and relaxed/transitioning hair, happened by accident. Little did Ashleigh Thornton know, she was well way on her way to being recognized by Seventeen Magazine, Fox Charlotte, Core Mag, Female Entrepreneur Association, and many more (the list goes on).

Here’s how Ashleigh landed her dream job:

HILMDJ: What Was Your Initial Career Goal? How has that changed from your current endeavors?

Ashleigh: My initial goal was (and still is) to become a politician! It hasn’t “changed” what I am currently doing, but I like to think that the two occupations compliment each other; some of the most influential and impactful leaders in politics have had a strong background in business!

HILMDJ: How did you get started? What sparked you to launch Noire Naturals?

Ashleigh: My inspiration for starting my business actually came by accident when I was 19 years-old and had decided to “go natural.” I experimented with all KINDS of “natural” hair products, and found that many of them contained harmful ingredients. Once I realized how many people out there shared some of my same frustrations, I was determined to formulate an all-natural product line of my own. I got my start by spending two years developing my products, and saving all of the initial funding so that I wouldn’t have to borrow money or take out a bank loan!

HILMDJ: What keeps you grounded?

Ashleigh: What keeps me grounded is constantly reminding myself (and others) that I did NOT get where I am today all by myself. Though I do not have any partners, I have a had unmeasurable support from my friends, family and mentors. I also stay grounded by making sure to give credit where it’s due. My all-time favorite quote (well, technically scripture) Jeremiah 29:11 — For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (NIV).

Ashleigh’s advice for anyone looking to achieve career happiness, Do whatever it is that you are PASSIONATE about; don’t make money or success your motive.

To find out more about Ashleigh, and Noire Naturals connect with them online. All you product junkies out there, be on the look out for Noire Naturals Holiday Sale the week before Christmas.

Ashleigh’s Twitter: @IAmNoire |  Twitter: @NoireNaturals

Website: http://www.noirenaturals.com | Contact info: info@noirenaturals.com

…this is How Ashleigh Thornton Landed Her Dream Job, she created it.

Career Lessons from Powerful Women – Forbes

Long before we were blessed with Beyoncé‘s “Run The World(Girls)”  women have been making powerful strides in their careers. Forbes does an awesome job of highlighting successful women. As I began reading 10 Career Lessons from Powerful Women, I immediately knew I had to re-post the article.

Experience is the best teacher, so of course taking advice from women who have already reached their peak (and those still climbing) is motivating. I hope these lessons ignite a fire within you to jump up and get focused on Landing Your Dream Job!

Career Lessons from Powerful Women

• Wake Up Early– success comes easier when you have a jump on the day.
  • Vogue editor Anna Wintour is on the tennis court by 6 every morning before work.
• Adopt Mentors and Learn Them
  • Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg says one thing you don’t want to do is ask someone, “Will you be my mentor?” It’s unnatural. Instead, you have to adopt them. After meeting, follow-up with an email. Send an interesting article or connect them with someone who might be helpful. Then maintain the relationship over time. And when an opportunity arises where they can really help you, ask: Will you recommend me for this job? Would you make the introduction?
• Stay Ever-Curious– “The smartest thing you can ever do is to constantly ask questions.”
  • Today, the lightning pace of change means you have to be ever-curious, always ready to learn and adapt to the new environment around you. Anne Sweeney, the co-chair of Disney Media Networks and president of Disney-ABC Television Group, describes herself as “driven by curiosity” because “it gets people excited” and “leads to new ideas, new jobs, new industries.”
• Listen
  • Hire people who are smarter than you, give them the tools to do their jobs and then listen carefully. If you’re able to be open to all different kinds of information, your conclusions will be that much better formed. Claire Watts, the U.S. CEO of retail and media company QVC, actually schedules open door times every Tuesday, so that anyone in the company who wants to come talk to her, ask her a question or share something they’ve noticed can do it then.
• Set Career Goals
  • Denise Morrison, the CEO of Campbell’s Soup, knew from a very young age she wanted to eventually run a company. She learned that just like you need to set goals to accomplish a business project, you need to set goals in your life, both short-term and long-term, and come up with a plan to achieve them. She always looked at her career as, “Where have I been? Where am I now? Where am I going, and what are the right assignments to get there?” If her current company would work with her to deliver those assignments, she was all-in. But if it didn’t, she knew she needed to move on.
• Be Courageous– Pinpoint what you want, and then you have to stand up and go after it
  • Beth Mooney, the CEO of KeyCorp, got her start in banking two years after she graduated from college by knocking on the door of every big bank in Dallas, Texas, and asking for a spot in their management training programs. At the Republic Bank of Dallas, she refused to leave the manager’s office until he offered her a job. So she waited. For three hours. And finally he said okay, he’d give her a chance if she earned an MBA by night. Raise your hand for the big opportunities.
• Get Comfortable With the Word “No” – Sometimes you’ll hear it. Sometimes you’ll need to say it.
  • Cozy up to the word “no.” Ertharin Cousin, executive director of the World Food Programme, says it’s one of the most difficult phrases for women to utter. Practice. It will get easier.
• Be Persistent– Success takes persistence, stamina and patience.
  • Thomas Edison failed thousands of times while inventing the light bulb. “I have found 10,000 ways something won’t work,” he said. But he wasn’t discouraged, “because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.” Most women reach the top after three decades plugging away.

If you’re anything like me, the tip about getting comfortable with the word NO was a hard pill to swallow. Everything is indeed a learning lesson.

I’m Maya J Hicks, and this is How I Landed My Dream Job!

I dropped the ball…

I’m Maya J Hicks and a month ago, today, I lost my dream job.

It wasn’t until yesterday, November 14th at 3:35pm that I realized why. As I came to the ending of If You Have To Cry, Go Outside by Kelly Cutrone (if you haven’t already read this book, I encourage you to run out and get it NOW). Kelly talked about why people get fired, amongst other things. Little did I know, the next few sentences would change my entire outlook on my current situation.

“When people get fired…they’ve highly overrated their own importance in the office” these words from Chapter 8  gave me the biggest reality check, I’ve ever had to cash.

There I was, a 23 year old recent college graduate, working in her career…thinking, I HAVE ARRIVED. Boy was I WRONG! It wasn’t until this very moment that I realized I had to take full responsibility for no longer having the job of my dreams.

Then, I heard the words of my mentor Michelle Horton, “You have to stay out of your own way Maya.”

I had to admit to myself first. I had, in fact, dropped the ball. I graduated May 2011 and began my career as a Marketing/Advertising Professional in August 2011 (Yes, I had successfully secured a job, in my field 3months after graduating). I became a poster child for my university, my family, my peers, and my mentors. Months of success, learning new and exciting things about the workplace and myself I really had it made. Of course there were things I didn’t like about my job but in the 14 months that I was there, I never dreaded going into work.

So how did I get to this point? Well, like Kelly so bluntly said I overrated my own importance in the agency. I got cocky, and I wasn’t satisfied. Not realizing what I had, I began to distract myself from my end goals.

This brings me to my favorite quote, “Don’t give up what you want the most for what you want right now,” – Lynn Mitchell.

I had simply forgotten what I really wanted in life, due to my chronic severe impatience syndrome.

I dropped the ball, but now it is time I picked it back up.

Follow me as I journey toward landing my dream job by simply creating it. This blog will highlight individuals and the courageous and daring events that helped them leave their mark in their respective careers.

This blog will also give tips and other important insights on finding and landing that dream job.

I’m Maya J Hicks, and this is How I Landed My Dream Job!

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