Monday 14 May 2012

Your Elevator Pitch

*Elevator pitch  is a short summary used to quickly and simply describe why a product, service, or organization is special or unique. The summary should excite and convince others................:  

Sometime last month, I was fortunate to meet an inspirational gentleman who gave a good talk.  I feel his message benefit you all. The basis of his talk was a comparison of two profiles:


PERSON A......................:

- Born 1968
- Parents separated when she was 6 years old
- Became a victim of sexual abuse at 7 years
- Failed her O Level exams at end of secondary school
- After 3 attempts at JAMB, she gained admission into university to study Sociology 
- Impregnated by her married lover aged 22 years old when she was in her final year at university
- Unmarried mother aged 23 years old
- Aged 24 years old, unemployed and depressed
- Aged 26 years old, her fiance called of the wedding at the last minute
- Unemployed aged 28 years old


PERSON B.........................:
- Born 1968
- Grew up in a very loving home
- Graduated top of her class aged 22 years old
- Created her own NGO aged 24 years old
- Gained a Masters Degree in Global Health aged 28 years old
- Employed by prestigious global health body aged 29 years old


Looking at the two profiles, which person would you say is now a successful proffessional with three children, a loving husband and a happy home......................???

Of course most people often choose the second person. However, both profiles belong to the same person....How.....?? Here's how..........:
- She was born in 1968
- Her parents did separate when she was 6 years old. However, she grew up surrounded by a loving mother and grandparents
- She was sexually abused by a neighbour who was baby sitting her when she  was 7 years old 
- She did fail her O levels at first attempt because she was 'distracted' by friends and parties
- However, she passed them on second attempt
- Despite repeated attempts she did not get the required marks for her preferred course (Law)
- At her third attempt at Jamb, she gained admission to study Sociology
- While at university, she discovered she absolutely loved Sociology and Anthropology and shone
- Unfortunately, while at university she had an affair with a married man who convinced her that his marriage was on its last legs
- She then got pregnant in her final year and abortion was not an option (especially as her mum found out)
- With the support of her mum and grandmother, she graduated top of her class after having the baby
- However, aged 24 years old, she suffered a crisis of confidence and became depressed
- Luckily, with the support of her family (especially an auntie who was a UK based medical doctor) she overcame this and set up an NGO for young, single mothers
- She met a man the next year and they got engaged the following year
- The man's mother was always against the relationship and at the last minute the 'mummy's boy' called off the wedding
- Aged 27, she won a scholarship to study for a Masters Degree in Global Health
- After graduating, she found herself unemployed aged 28 years old 
- Happily, her strong dissertation, volunteering experience, supportive mentors and NGO background secured her a position with a prestigious global health body aged 29 years old

The message behind this is that - We all have ups and downs; We all make stupid mistakes; We all stumble and fall; We all lose at some point in time; We all fail at some point............

However, it is up to you to decide what to focus on...Your successes or Your Failures?

If there's one thing I know it is that generally, people are very willing to remind you of what you lack or where you have failed...........However, it is up to you to remind yourselves - and everyone - about your success.

You must walk around with an elevator pitch in your head - of what makes you special, of what gifts you have and of why you are a survivor.

If you don't believe you a great - and that you deserve to be here ...............no one else will.

See you soon
xxxxx

(images from: http://www.fotosearch.com/ )

59 comments:

  1. hi naija mum, pleeasssee dont stop writing u inspire me soo much,and just a teenager..keep up the gud work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the comment
      I'm glad the post touched you
      God bless
      xxxxxx

      Delete
  2. You definitely make an amazing point! I had suspected that they were the same person.

    I've definitely learned in life that your past does not determine your future and your future is always what you make of it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You suspected?
      I never did LOL
      Thanks for 'past does not determine your future and your future is always what you make of it'
      True word
      Thanks dear

      Delete
  3. Wow, this is a great post! We def must focus on the positives in our lives...thanks for sharing!

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  4. True, true... Very insightful post.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This post is very inspiring seeing as I can relate to this young lady. Your post are a delight to read.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your honesty
      Thanks also for the lovely words
      Stay blessed
      xxxxxx

      Delete
  6. wow, this sure drove home the message. thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Doll
      I'm blessed that the message touched people. It really touched me
      xxxxxxxx

      Delete
  7. Awesome! Very inspiring life story...Thanks for sharing it with us...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No problem D
      Hope all is well with you and yours
      Stay blessed
      xxxxxxx

      Delete
  8. awww... you see why I miss you anytime you are not posting? I enjoyed the story to bits.
    I will definitely live my life with a constant reminder of an "elevator pitch in your head" thanks..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are making feel special ohhhh
      Priscy, thanks so much for this comment
      I hope all is well
      xxxxxxxxx

      Delete
  9. You just have a way of nailing points. You see why we won't allow you to disappear from blogville en? Nice one. Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Toin
      God bless you
      Hope all is well
      xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

      Delete
  10. "...people are very willing to remind you of what you lack or where you have failed...........However, it is up to you to remind yourselves... about your success.

    You must walk around with an elevator pitch in your head - of what makes you special, of what gifts you have and of why you are a survivor.

    If you don't believe you a great - and that you deserve to be here... "

    So so inspiring! Some people do tell us we are okay, but really at the end of the day it is what we tell ourselves that makes a world of difference. I so value this post! Thank you for taking time out to write and share it :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are right re 'it is what we tell ourselves' Too true.

      Thanks for taking the time to read it.
      You are blessed
      xxxxxxxxx

      Delete
  11. this is awesome, point taken, thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow, this is really inspiring. Same person? Life is really full of ups and downs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes oh...same person
      Thanks for dropping by
      Stay blessed
      xxxxxxx

      Delete
  13. You are deep naija mummy (I love calling u that. More optimism coming from me. I've missed u btw. Don't be going for long please.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So sorry about the absence
      Life can be a bit hectic at times
      How are you?
      Do take care
      xxxxxxx

      Delete
  14. This na TRUE TALK my sister!!! It's really good to have something like this to hand whenever we hit the troughs in life. I most certainly am inspired by this. Thank you so much for sharing. xxx

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for reading Buki
      Hope all is well with you
      I hope to see you around more
      xxxxxxxxxx

      Delete
  15. Tanxx so much for sharing this..... Twaz insightful.

    ReplyDelete
  16. You really might never know how much this blessed me. Very illustrative and insightful. For a second, I found it hard to believe the two scenarios belonged to one person. The breakdown really made things clearer. Thanks much NIL!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you liked the post
      Hope all is well with you
      xxxxxxx

      Delete
  17. WOW!...thats the only word that came out...I really love this post and it was a blessing. thanks for sharing NIL

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  18. what an interesting post. Its so true, sometimes we tell our story differently and sometimes we leave out the bits that show how we've overcome adversity forgetting its part of our story.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Totally agree with you
      We need to always remember that we are conquerors....especially considering so many have passed on while we are still here
      Life is a blessing
      xxxxx

      Delete
  19. {{{so loving you hug}}...thank you so much for his inspirational article.....such is life...nobody knows tomorrow or the outcome ... got to show with determination and loving family, one can overcome obstacles.

    Greetings to your family.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My sister..'nobody knows tomorrow' To true
      Hope all is well
      thanks for dropping by - again and again
      xxxxxxxxxx

      Delete
  20. wow lovely. i didn't suspect that they were the same but i guessed as much the first girls life turned out to be okay after all. its very true to pick up the pieces and move on, and not wallow in self pity.
    www.secretlilies.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Totally agree re ' not wallow in self pity'
      So true
      Thanks for commenting
      xxxxxxx

      Delete
  21. Amazing... I thot it was two different pple ohh..

    I like the analysis and comparison. I am deeply inspired.

    Something tells me its a personal story but maybe it just all in my head.

    THANKS FOR SHARING..

    XXXX

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Its in your head oh........LOL

      Seriously though not mine...I'll tell you mine hen we meet up
      Thanks dearie
      xxxxxxxxxxx

      Delete
  22. hmmmm NIL...always with a moral...thanks for sharing ..God bless you and the speaker,,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL @ 'always with the moral'
      How will you know I am a mum LOL
      God bless you too
      xxxxxxxxxxx

      Delete
  23. Could you not edit it for him e.g. errors in 'professional' and the last two lines? No matter what, I really enjoyed it. If you don't read or hear other peoples past, you may never appreciate or accept your own.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. RE 'Could you not edit it for him e.g. errors in 'professional' and the last two lines?'
      In one word ...NO

      If that spoilt your 'enjoyment' of the post then I do apologise but I post to inspire and communicate and that involves some passion. In the real world, passionate speech might come with flaws.

      Thanks for commenting

      Delete
  24. OMG, this is awesome! It actually knocked the wind out of me, I was that surprised. Guess I have a lot to keep learning. Thanks for sharing, and for the inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Myne. I do appreciate your commenting and I am glad the message resonated with you.
      Hope all is well
      xxxxxx

      Delete
  25. This has got to be the best post I have ever read...thank you so much for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OMG @ 'the best post'

      Lara, you want to make my big head bigger? LOL

      Thanks for the compliment. I really really really do appreciate it
      xxxxxxxxx

      Delete
  26. She's bacccccccckkkkkkkk!!!

    thanks for sharing and you are very right.... sometimes in our down periods we feel like it is the end of the world... but, the outcome of the 'down' time depends on what we decide to do after.. stay down or keep moving.. hmmm....food for thought.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much
      Hope all is well with you and oga
      Please take care of yourself and stay blessed
      xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

      Delete
  27. Awesome post!!
    I never would have linked the two women as one. And some will see the success he has become and murmur - oh she had it easy. Silver spoon etc not knowing the obstacles overcome. We keep learning everyday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Like you Ginger, I learn every day
      Life is full of twists and turns
      Hope all is well
      xxxxxxxxx

      Delete
  28. Oluwatosin Olaseinde22 August 2012 at 20:08

    Hmmmm,
    I have gone through ur entire blog,
    LOL, I just stumbled upon it
    and all I can say is WOW,
    this is the best thing I ve read in a while.
    Life, it is up to us and ofcourse with the HELP OF GOD what we make of it.

    May God always grant us the wisdom to sail our ship as the captain through the storms and whirlwind and reach our destination.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amen and amen to your prayer
      I am truly flattered by your comments
      I hope to see you blogging soon
      xxxxxxxx

      Delete
  29. i love reading this article so beautiful!!great job!
    waupaca elevator lawsuit

    ReplyDelete

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