A Dream is Just a Dream

A dream is just a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline.

-Harvey Mackay

Passion is not a substitute for planning. It’s not. I’ve met hundreds of passionate people who, without a clear plan of action, watch their dreams fall by the wayside. I’ve also sat relatively still while someone presented me a 30 page PowerPoint presentation only to find that at the conclusion, I was still left wondering what it is they do.

Enter the 118 pitch! This concept is quickly becoming one of the most popular concepts of my bestselling book, The Mirror Test.  The 118 is the 21st century version of what some people still call the elevator pitch, an out-of-date name for the worthy idea that you need to sell what your company offers (and you) in the span of an elevator ride. Technology has not only made things (including elevators) move faster but also has increased the need for speed and immediate relevance in pitching. It comes from the 118 seconds you actually have to pitch: 8 seconds to hook me (the average attention span of an adult) and up to 110 seconds (the average elevator ride in New York)  to drive it home – less than two minutes with only seconds to spare.

This January, we put out a challenge. Create, upload and share your 118 pitch with the world and have a chance to win 46K in prizes! Entries with the highest number of votes were judged by a star-studded panel: Daymond John, Mari Smith, Gerhard Gschwandtner, Mark Malkoff and Paula Shugart. The contest was a great success as businesses, school programs and non-profits detailed their passion for what it is they do, in 118 seconds. They grabbed our attention. They conveyed who they were. They described what their business offered and they explained the promises they would deliver. Well, at least the winners did J Kudos to our Grand Prize winner, Chris Westfall http://westfallonline.com/

You can view the winners videos here: https://promos.wildfireapp.com/dashboard/contests/89942/entries/winners

Grand Prize – Chris Westfall     Virtual keynote & Consult – The Hayzlett Group          

2^nd Prize – Michelle Lubow     Brand audit and consultation     

3^rd Prize – Josh Pies      Itracks  Subscription               

4^th Prize – Gretchen Pattullo     OmNovia  Subscription    

5^th Prize –  Stamford Academy        Alan Campbell/Westley Associates logo

6^th Prize – Nathan Heinart       Owlish Communications LinkedIn Profile

Overall there were some great entries, engagement, networking and a whole lot of fun!. We will definitely repeat this contest so keep refining your 118! Think about what it is that sets your business apart from all others and then use it to develop a strong, articulate 118 pitch, so that when opportunity knocks, you can open the door.

www.118pitch.com