"Elevator Pitch"

 

“Elevator Pitch”

 

In 1854 Elisha Otis gave a brief demonstration of an elevator braking system at the Crystal Palace Exhibition in New York City during what some have called “America’s First World’s Fair”. Up until this time ropes and pulleys were used to lift goods but due to safety concerns they weren’t used to transport people. When Otis’ invention proved to be dependable the first of his elevators was installed in a store in New York in 1857. This innovation was a major factor which enabled the construction of skyscrapers around the world. Today billions of people use Otis Elevators to reach offices, hotel rooms and other places which hadn’t been accessible previously.

Otis’ successful venture gave rise (pun intended) to a concept called the Elevator Pitch, a 30-60 second encounter in an elevator or other context in which a person presents an idea, product or even job inquiry in a time equivalent to an elevator trip. It typically includes an introduction, “grabber statement” and request for a meeting and ends with giving a business card with contact information. I know of no statistics about the effectiveness of such an approach but some, especially those with outgoing personalities, have likely used it successfully.

We as God’s people can adapt this method for opening doors to witnessing. Jesus’ friend and apostle reminds us to “Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are….” (1 Peter 3:15, TM) but to do so “…in love….” (Ephesians 4:15), “…full of grace….” (Colossians 4:6) and “…with gentleness and respect….” (1 Peter 3:15). A godly man in one of our churches would ask customers for whom he was pumping gas (remember when that was done?) at his son’s service station, “Do you know what John 3:16 says?” and at times a spiritual conversation followed. I learned from a fellow hospice chaplain to ask patients, “How are you coping with your situation?”—their answers gave me insight as to their thoughts about God and in some cases I saw them receive Christ shortly before He took them to Heaven. Solomon said, “…How delightful is a timely word….” (Proverbs 15:23, NASB)  --it can be effective in an elevator pitch for Christ at a crucial time. So let’s pray we’ll use the opportunities God sends our way to touch people for Him.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan