Last post I said it’s possible to get comfortable with elevator-statement moments.

The first thing to do is pray – well before those moments arise.  In your prayer time, ask to learn how to trust that God will provide the moments you need to accomplish His purposes (His clients for you) and His plans for your calling (your growth and establishment as a life coach) and your provision (income).  The alternative to trust is fear, and if you go that direction you will launch into situations and conversations and even business agreements that are fear-based.  The fear-based path is not recommended and probably isn’t your desire (i.e. don’t waste your time there).

Next, accept God’s grace as you learn to sense the Spirit’s leading regarding your opportunities to share what you do.  While you are boldly and faithfully sharing what God has given you to say, expect to make what feels like “mistakes.”  You make the “mistake” and the next thing you know, you are discouraged and need to remind yourself of the grace that covers your shame.  Accept that, stand up, and press on at your next God-revealed opportunity. 

An example of this in my first “I’m a life coach” conversations went something like this:  “I’m a life coach;  do you know what that is?”  Do you know what that is?  After saying this, I melted at the thought of how goofy I sounded.  Discouragement set in, and then grace, and I decided to change my words to “I’m a life coach;  are you familiar with life coaching?”  There.  Much better.  Works great.

Here is another example that required “standing up and pressing on.”  I was at a coaching conference and met a new coach who rattled off her elevator statement when I said “tell me about how coaching is going for you.”  Unfortunately her elevator statement wasn’t clear to me and sent my mind off in a completely wrong direction.  As a result, my follow up question was completely off-the-wall.  She replied with, “No,…” and then rattled off the elevator statement again.  I asked another question, she again gave me the statement.  By this time, she was truly embarassed and I felt her pain.  I thought, “stand up and press on, sister.”  Of course, I hoped she would revise her statement.  More importantly, I wanted her to be more sensitive (interactive, listening, aware…) in her future conversations so that her goal was true connection rather than “making the elevator statement.”

So next post I’ll talk about making true connection with potential clients and referrers.  In this one, hopefully you’ve heard my encouragement is to first pray and connect with the Holy Spirit about leading you to God-planned “elevator-statement” moments.  Then, step into the opportunity and accept grace in the process.