Pitch Perfect - How I Finally Nailed My Elevator Pitch
Jo Rawald • November 10, 2024
How My Elevator Pitch went from Pitch-Panic to Pitch-Perfect
When I worked as a Senior Project Manager for a global consulting firm, leading teams of management and tax consultants for small to medium-sized businesses, I was bouncing between two to three cities every week. Being the extrovert that I am, striking up conversations with random strangers was my superpower. You’d think I would’ve had my elevator pitch nailed-down, right? Well, not quite. Anytime someone asked, “So, what do you do?” I’d dive into a rambling mess of buzzwords that sounded like a corporate word salad. I’m pretty sure I left most people scratching their heads, wondering if I was in consulting or speaking another language entirely.
When I launched my own coaching business, the pressure was on. I didn’t have a big sales team behind me anymore — I had to be my own sales force, and it was clear that mastering my elevator pitch was going to be a make-or-break skill. I knew I had to get it right, and it all clicked when I found my secret weapon!
Toastmasters Was My First Stop
To kick things off, I joined Toastmasters. It seemed like a smart move, and to be fair, it was a great start. Toastmasters
helped me get comfortable speaking in front of an audience, cut down on using filler-words like, "Um" and "you know", more importantly, Toastmasters
helped me learn the art of storytelling. It gave me a solid foundation and boosted my confidence in public speaking. But when it came to my elevator pitch, I still felt like I was delivering a five-paragraph essay when all I needed was a quick, catchy sentence.
I needed something more targeted. That’s when BNI
came into the picture.
BNI Gave Me the Practice I Needed
Joining BNI
(Business Networking International) changed everything for me. I joined the BNI Wealth Builders Chapter
near my home, looking to make connections and grow my business. What I didn’t realize was how much this group would help me polish and perfect my elevator pitch.
We meet every Tuesday morning for breakfast and our weekly chapter meeting. Our chapter is a group full of like-minded professionals, all eager to support each other’s businesses. During every weekly meeting, we each take turns introducing ourselves and our businesses in a 60-second elevator pitch in front of the room. Sixty seconds may sound short, but it’s the perfect amount of time to deliver a clear, concise pitch. This weekly practice session became my personal training ground. Week after week, I tweaked my pitch, streamlined my message, and learned to deliver it with confidence.
These 60-second intros forced me to get laser-focused on what I offer and who I help. It wasn’t just about practicing — it was about fine-tuning my approach until it felt natural and resonated with my audience.
Stepping Up with the Feature Presentation
Once I had my 60-second pitch down, I took the opportunity to take my elevator pitch to the next level with the BNI
Feature Presentation. This is when one member each week gets the spotlight for a full 10 minutes to dive deeper, share their story, and showcase their expertise. It’s like your own mini–TED Talk but with a room full of supportive colleagues cheering you on.
During my first Feature Presentation, I shared my journey from being the queen of rambling airport conversations to confidently pitching my business in any setting. By the end of my talk, I had the room engaged, laughing, and eager to refer clients my way. It was a breakthrough moment — I realized that all the weekly practice had transformed my confidence and made my pitch effortless.
The Magic of BNI Referrals
The biggest surprise was how BNI
turned out to be more than just a place to practice my pitch. It became a real community focused on helping each other grow. The BNI
philosophy of “Givers Gain” means we actively refer business to fellow members, creating a powerful network of trust and collaboration.
If I need a plumber, I don’t hesitate — I call Sarah Kennedy from K.O.S. Elite. When I need financial advice, Chris Malkin
at Edward Jones
is my go-to. For a friend needing a great divorce attorney, I send them straight to Claudia Capriles at MC Family Law. When it comes to property insurance, I always recommend Diamond Bolden. These referrals aren’t just business transactions — they’re based on real relationships built over time.
Having a network like this not only boosted my business but also gave me the confidence to deliver my pitch with clarity, knowing I had a whole team of people who believed in me.
The Winning Formula • Practice, Support, and Consistency
Mastering my elevator pitch didn’t happen overnight, but BNI gave me the perfect space to practice and improve consistently. The combination of regular feedback, a supportive environment, and the accountability of showing up each week helped me fine-tune my message until it was pitch-perfect.
Now, when someone asks what I do, I don’t hesitate. I say, “For over 20 years, I’ve been helping small businesses boost sales, streamline processes, and drive profitability. What sets me apart from other business coaches are four key things: (1) my extensive experience, (2) my Lean Six Sigma expertise in process improvement, (3) my specialized programs for Women-Owned, Veteran-Owned, and Minority-Owned businesses, and (4) a unique ‘Pay Only When You’re Awarded’ grant-writing service that delivers results without the upfront risk.”
It’s quick, it’s memorable, and it gets people interested. No more stumbling or second-guessing — just a confident, clear pitch every time.
If you’re ready to polish your own elevator pitch and make powerful business connections, I’d love to have you join me at a BNI Wealth Builders
Chapter meeting here in Weston, FL. You’ll get to experience the energy, meet incredible professionals, and see firsthand how BNI
can help you refine your message and grow your business.
Click the link below to RSVP as my guest — I can’t wait to introduce you to the group that helped me go from pitch panic to pitch perfect.
Keep On Pitchin’,
Jo
I went to a networking event yesterday at Rosie’s Bar & Grill in Wilton Manors. Tropical-chic to the max. You know the kind of place - upscale casual, strong cocktails, mandatory valet. Now usually, I’m all about valet. But not yesterday. I wasn’t there to sip martinis or hang around all night. I could only stay for 20-minutes. That means - I was on a serious 20-minute mission: say hi, shake hands, peace out. Then, get back in my car to jump on a Zoom meeting! I certainly wasn’t about to drop $20 just to park my car for 20 minutes. No way! I pulled into the valet area, looked the guy dead in the eye, and said, “I’ll be in and out faster than your last relationship. Can I just park it right here?” And bless his heart - he said yes. Honestly, that should’ve been my win for the night. But then I met Sean Gac-Guerrier. Sean’s the Marketing Director at Excel Title, Inc. We started talking about dogs - and **cue the angels singing. We clicked instantly. Not two strangers meeting, more like two childhood friends who hadn’t seen each other in a decade! Sean showed me a photo of his dog, Dottie. I pulled out pics of my girl, Adelaide. Then he pulled out a photo of Dottie that stopped me in my tracks. Sean had a photo of what Dottie would look like as a human. Not a cartoon. Not a filter. I’m talking AI-generated, fully humanized, real-world, cardigan-wearing, intelligent-and-intimidating Dottie. I was mesmerized! It was as if Pixar and the FBI teamed up to design her. I looked at Adelaide’s pic… then looked back at Sean… and blurted out, “I need to humanize my dog!!” And I did. I went home, found the exact AI prompt, uploaded Adelaide’s photo, answered a few fun questions about her personality, and style - then… BOOM. Human Adelaide was born. Tall, lean, cozy-chic, with that unmistakable “don’t-mess-with-me-but-I’ll-still-hug-you” vibe. She looked like she ran Homeland Security and still had time for tacos and espresso martinis on a rooftop. Honestly? I stared at the image for like five minutes. Because it wasn’t just about making something cute. It was about seeing something familiar - something you know - come to life in a new way. Here’s the AI Prompt if you want to try it yourself:
Your business is not a side dish. It’s the main course—and it deserves to be treated like one. In this no-BS blog, I’m calling out “leftover” business strategies that leave women entrepreneurs stuck, stressed, and scaling in all the wrong ways. Discover how to build a business that’s bold, sustainable, and built to outlast trends using my BAMBOO Framework.
Too many women are stuck in the hustle—working nonstop, solving the same problems, and barely seeing the return.
You didn’t start your business to burn out. You started it to break free.
If you’re ready to ditch the stress and build a business that actually pays you back, this is your moment.
Join me LIVE in South Florida at Brains, Brilliance & Bold Moves—where I’ll show you how to scale smart, simplify your systems, and make way more money doing less.
🍷 Dinner, wine, and your profit breakthrough: www.jorawald.com/Brains-Brilliance-and-Bold-Moves
If your business feels like a tornado of to-do lists, dropped balls, and duct-taped systems… it’s not just exhausting—it’s expensive.
Chaos costs you time, clarity, and cold hard cash.
This blog is your wake-up call:
🛠️ Simplify your operations
💸 Stop bleeding profit
📈 Build a business that works for you
Read it. Apply it. Start making smart money moves →
👉 https://siteeditor.thryv.com/home/site/c8e9f361/blog/if-your-business-feels-like-a-hot-mess-its-costing-you-money#preview
You’re not charging too much. You’re not “bad at sales.”
You’re just leaving money on the table—and this blog breaks down exactly how to stop.
If you’re underpricing, over-delivering, or relying on guesswork to grow… you’re leaking profit.
Let’s fix that.
I’m giving you the tools to:
💰 Price like a pro
📊 Package for profit
🎯 Sell with strategy
Read it, bookmark it, share it with your business BFFs →
👉 www.jorawald.com/youre-leaving-money-on-the-table-lets-fix-that
The right clients are watching—but do they actually know what you do?
If your messaging is vague, cute, or confusing, you’re basically invisible.
This blog is your wake-up call to get crystal clear, magnetic, and straight-up undeniable.
You’ll learn how to:
🧲 Attract the right people (without chasing)
📢 Clarify your offer
👑 Show up as the go-to expert in your space
Because your next client isn’t on the fence—they’re just unsure if you are the answer. Fix that here →
👉 www.jorawald.com/the-right-clients-should-be-coming-to-you-theyre-watching-but-do-they-know-what-you-do
One Zoom call. That’s all it took to blow up how I coach—and rebuild it into something way more powerful.
If you’re overcomplicating your client process, trying to “do it all,” or feel like coaching is starting to drain you… this blog is your game-changer.
Inside, I break down:
🔥 The shift that simplified everything
🎯 How I get faster results (without burning out)
💡 What most coaches get totally wrong
If you’re a coach or service provider who’s doing the most and getting the least—read this NOW.
👉 www.jorawald.com/this-one-zoom-call-changed-how-i-coached-forever
If your business isn’t making money… it’s not a business. It’s an expensive, exhausting hobby.
This blog is for the women out here grinding, posting, perfecting—but still not profiting.
It’s time to change that.
Inside, I cover:
💰 Why profit has to come first
🛠️ What to fix if your sales are flat
🎯 How to stop playing business and start running one
This one’s a tough-love truth bomb—with the strategy to back it up.
👉 www.jorawald.com/if-your-business-isnt-making-money-you-have-an-exhausting-hobby
They’re dyeing rivers green for attention—and you’re still “hoping” someone sees your post?
Nope. Not in this business.
Visibility isn’t optional. If you're not making waves, you're not getting paid.
This blog dives into why playing small is costing you BIG and how to show up like a brand that actually wants to win.
Inside, I break down:
🌊 Visibility vs. volume
🎯 Making moves that matter
💡 Building brand authority (without gimmicks)
Your audience is watching—what are you showing them?
👉 www.jorawald.com/they-re-dyeing-rivers-green-what-are-you-doing
Sometimes the best business lessons don’t come from a boardroom—they show up at the dog park.
This blog unpacks a real-life moment with my pup that exposed something big:
Too many women entrepreneurs are overthinking, under-trusting, and second-guessing their own power.
Here’s what I realized (and what you need to hear):
🐾 Your instincts are an asset
🧠 Overanalyzing kills momentum
👑 Leadership starts with self-trust
Don’t miss this one—it’s a mindset reset wrapped in fur.
👉 www.jorawald.com/the-lesson-i-didnt-expect-at-the-dog-park