10 seconds is more than enough

I recently attended a face-to-face business event where we were each given 10 seconds to introduce ourselves and say what we did for a living. It was interesting to observe what happened.

10 seconds is not long but is more than enough time to get the relevant information across. And it’s a useful exercise – you should be able to articulate your business offering succinctly.

As we all know, some people have no concept of time. 10 seconds is not long enough for your life story, work history and a break down of the multiple services you offer. Yet that’s how some interpreted the brief. It took me back to the days of the CEO telling me they’d only need 5 minutes for their pitch intro, which meant I allocated 15 😊

It’s interesting how context affects the answer. If you bumped into an old friend on a night out and they asked you what you did for a living, you’d be able to answer swiftly. I’m an IFA. I’m a pet photographer. I’m a professional golfer.

Yet in front of a group, with your brain telling you that you have to be memorable, it’s tempting to try and create a wide-ranging narrative arc.

The most common brief I receive is how to simplify a complex offering. Applying the 10 second rule is a good start.