I often struggle when asked to give my elevator pitch – there are so many things I think about and want to do. But it’s more than time I did it, so here goes nothing…
What’s acidlabs mean?
acidlabs is about ideas. With the name, I wanted to create something that attracted attention. That’s worked just fine, even with the drug lab jokes.
So, acid burns and labs are a place to create or generate something. acidlabs is a place to generate ideas that burn.
I’ve been told a couple of times recently that I should use that as the company tagline. Hmmm.
What’s acidlabs all about?
acidlabs has always been about three things – Conversation. Collaboration. Community.
When you engage someone in conversation, you open up the opportunity to collaborate. That collaboration, done right, gives you the chance to build or enhance a community. That community could be your neighborhood, your organisation, your business or your profession.
Applied to my work, the mantra of Conversation. Collaboration. Community. means that whether the work is user experience design (or any of its many relatives), knowledge work or social media focussed, there is always a strategic goal of building the three parts of the mantra into the work so that the client achieves the best possible outcome. That’s achieved by:
- open, honest and frequent conversation (which is ideally many-many)
- productive collaboration at all levels with all stakeholders (or as many as I can get access to)
- engagement of the community of stakeholders in a way that achieves not only project goals but improves the organisation where at all possible
The sort of clients I work with varies immensely. In the past couple of years I’ve worked with a major bank, a tiny startup, advertising and media companies, Federal government departments, industry lobby groups, non-profit and social welfare groups, film-makers and educational institutions. The work I do is applicable to almost anyone.
Does this all make sense?
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
You know elevator pitches can be hard, just as much as what do you say next, or where do you even start.
This is why I wrote this post (shameless cross promotion) http://manwithnoblog.com/2010/01/10/effective-freelance-networking-the-opening-pitch/
Thing is your pitch may make sense to me and you, but does it make sense to your clients and the like.
Wouldn’t you also say something about who your customers are?
@Marius I should. Missing bit rectified.
Good stuff there, Gary. Additional food for thought. Ta!
And, from you, shameless cross-promotion is always acceptable.
Stephen, In the US they regard an elevator pitch as exactly that. If you can get across what you do in the time it takes an elevator to get from the ground to the 10th floor then forget it.
How about “At acidlabs we manage your corporate data as an asset and show your staff how to collaborate to enhance your services and acheive your corporate goals”
@ Gary, terrific article, I have just tweeted the URL to thousnads of attendees at the Lotusphere conference currently on in Orlando.
@John I see where you’re coming from with the “corporate data” idea, though I’d be uncomfortable if that was perceived as a focus. Food for thought.