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bewize ([personal profile] bewize) wrote2009-10-12 08:55 pm
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LJ Idol 00: My Elevator Speech

Supposedly, everyone should have an elevator speech ready in a moment's notice. Thirty seconds isn't much time to persuade someone that we are an ideal candidate for a job, or a date, or a bizarre opportunity, but "smart" people have one on hand.

I have no elevator speech.

Perhaps this is a mistake.

Perhaps if I had an elevator speech, I wouldn't have been laid off in February.

Perhaps if I had an elevator speech, I would have chatted up that hot guy who sold diamonds on the 10th floor of the building I used to work in and being living in Zurich or Paris right now.

Perhaps if I had an elevator speech, I would have impressed someone famous in passing and could have travelled the world with a chance at being famous myself.

I could be the best in the world at elevator speeches. I shall now practice.

In case I run into a potential boss:

"Hello, my name is Bewize. I'm a litigation attorney, with an excellent record, and no fear in the court room. I like clients, and more importantly, clients like me."

In case I run into a potential date:

"Hi! I'm Bewize. I like action movies and sports. I love going out to eat and I prefer pubs and bars to dance clubs. I like to travel, and… ummm… I'm bendy."

In case I meet someone famous:

"Hello, I'm Bewize and I'm a fan. Also, I have the perfect screenplay in mind for you. In fact, I thought of it with you in mind. You should let me tell you about it over drinks."

More likely, even an amazing elevator speech wouldn't have changed my life in any way. Honestly, they are a terrible way to get to know someone. They leave out important details, like:

In case I run into a potential boss:

"You should probably also know that I haven't ever really enjoyed working in a Big Firm and my two experiences both ended badly. I have Boss PTSD now."

In case I run into a potential date:

"I require a lot of personal space and if you snore, you will sleep on the sofa. With the cats, who, by the way were there first, so don't kick them off."

In case I meet someone famous:

"I really don't know who you are, but I feel like you could be useful to me in my life, therefore, I shall suck up."

Most of these facts are true. (And if I met a famous person, I could come up with a screenplay in a matter of seconds, if it mattered.)

I am a mass of contradictions. I am a lawyer who doesn't like lawyers for the most part (with certain exceptions!). I like action movies, but a well done romantic comedy is a thing of beauty to be cherished. I dislike clubs, but love to dance. I like meeting famous people, because I like picking their brains to figure out what they did right.

In case I meet someone in [livejournal.com profile] therealljidol who wants to know more about me:

I should also point out that I am a freelance writer. I opened my own law firm this year. I have had so many health problems of late that I am operating under the theory that 2009 is trying to kill me. I like television. I'm reading classic literature that I feel I should have read in the past, but didn't, in order to keep my brain from atrophying.

Oh, and I am bendy.

This entry was written in response to the [livejournal.com profile] therealljidol Challenge 00 – Introductions. Feedback is always welcome and appreciated..

[identity profile] stormkitty.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 01:19 am (UTC)(link)
I like both sets of elevator speeches. Best of luck this season!

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 01:27 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks. :)

[identity profile] ladymako71.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 01:20 am (UTC)(link)
I like your intro, very innovative and insightful. =) Good luck to you this season!

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you. *lol*

And good luck to you, too, if you're playing. I need to go and read intros...

(no subject)

[identity profile] ladymako71.livejournal.com - 2009-10-14 01:43 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] emo-snal.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 01:36 am (UTC)(link)
Good intro. And I've only said that to like four people. (:

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 02:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you kindly.

I must be in excellent company! ;)

[identity profile] fourzoas.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
Bendy-ness is important. Critical, even.

What are you reading these days? I'm looking for some new brain food.

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 02:54 pm (UTC)(link)
My friend and I are doing it together for fun. Thus far we've read Animal Farm and Jamaica Inn. I'm working my way through The Old Curiosity Shop (Dickens) at the moment. There are more books lined up!

Brain food.... yummy.

(no subject)

[identity profile] fourzoas.livejournal.com - 2009-10-15 15:49 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] comedychick.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 02:05 am (UTC)(link)
My husband was a lawyer who hated working in a firm (he hasn't been in a large one), so started his own, which he ran for about six years until he decided to do something new. I don't think he likes too many other lawyers either, especially if they represent insurance companies. He hates insurance companies.

Good luck with your own firm. Do you specialise in any particular areas? My husband tended toward IT Law.

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 02:55 pm (UTC)(link)
LOL. I worked insurance defense in my last job. Prior to that I did Plaintiff's work in wrongful foreclosure.

Now I do a bit of everything to pay the bills. :)

(no subject)

[identity profile] comedychick.livejournal.com - 2009-10-14 15:05 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] imafarmgirl.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 02:20 am (UTC)(link)
Grins. This was great. Looking forward to all your other entries too.

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 02:55 pm (UTC)(link)
*bows*

Glad to entertain, madam. Looking forward to the new season!

[identity profile] beautyofgrey.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
Well now... I need to work on MY elevator speech. Nice intro!

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 02:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Hehehe, I wish you better luck than I had. I'm pretty sure I've yet to come up with a good one.

:)

[identity profile] twystedpixie.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
This somewhat reminds me of the way my favorite cousin, a bipolar paramedic-cum-MMA fighter, once mockingly used to say he should pick up girls: "Hi, my name is Kevin. I'm a manic depressive who hates most people, has quit college twice, and hasn't held down a job for more than 3 months at a time due to boredom. Wanna go out?"

I laughed, but there was some truth in what he said. We all put our best foot forward in introductions, whereas there is always the counterbalance of self-derision. Ultimately I think most of us fall somewhere in the middle, hopefully leaning toward the former...at least the part of me that always sees the best in people thinks so. :D

[identity profile] seeksadventure.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 07:39 am (UTC)(link)
I pretty much love your cousin's elevator speech there.

(no subject)

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com - 2009-10-14 14:57 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] joeymichaels.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 04:41 am (UTC)(link)
You had me at "bendy."

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 02:57 pm (UTC)(link)
*snerk*

Did I now?

*grins*

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/____hejira/ 2009-10-14 06:10 am (UTC)(link)
I have always enjoyed your writing. Welcome back to the insanity that is Lj Idol.

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 02:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you, muchly!

I'm glad to be back and was glad to see your name in the crowd, though I've not made it through the intros yet.

[identity profile] mermaidkween.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 07:36 am (UTC)(link)
Bendy is a good thing.


And that's what I hate about elevator speeches - they leave out so much. I think I haven't gotten a job yet because I tend to include too much. Maybe I just need practice.

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 02:58 pm (UTC)(link)
If you're bendy, you rarely break. :)

You and me both. *hugs*

[identity profile] seeksadventure.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 07:39 am (UTC)(link)
You make me laugh with your snarkiness and you are bendy. These are two important things I look for in my mentors, I'll have you know.
Edited 2009-10-14 07:39 (UTC)

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 02:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Awwww.

Thanks. I really appreciate that, both comments.

(By the way, it's not too late for you to play, if you're toying with the idea. I think you'd be really good at this and it's a lot of fun.)

[identity profile] baxaphobia.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 09:52 am (UTC)(link)
[livejournal.com profile] bewize is back! Great intro! You made me smile!

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 02:59 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm back! From outerspace!

Wait... wrong song.

I'm glad I made you smile. *hugs*

[identity profile] catwomyn5.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 01:08 pm (UTC)(link)
The bendy comments made me snarf my coffee. :)

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 03:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Bwahahahaha.

My work here is done. (Are we having dinner tomorrow night?)

(no subject)

[identity profile] catwomyn5.livejournal.com - 2009-10-14 15:05 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] chix001.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 01:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah! Love it!

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 03:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks. :)

Like I mentioned above, it's not too late to play, if you're thinking about it. I think you'd be good at it and have fun. :)

[identity profile] dabhug.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 02:11 pm (UTC)(link)
I knew I liked you.

Nice job!

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 03:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Awwww, I LIKE YOU TOO!

*twirls*

Thanks. :)

[identity profile] drjeff.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 03:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Lovely... I will look forward to reading more!

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com 2009-10-15 04:53 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you! I hope I don't disappoint. :)

[identity profile] zia-narratora.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 06:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Aw! I liked this post, it was a very telling intro to the way your mind works! Good luck and nice meeting you!

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com 2009-10-15 04:53 am (UTC)(link)
LOL. My mind works?

Good lord. Who knew? ;)

Thanks!

[identity profile] so-small.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 07:28 pm (UTC)(link)
I like your elevator speeches! Best of luck and nice meeting you :)

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com 2009-10-15 04:53 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you! Same to you.
shadowwolf13: (Default)

[personal profile] shadowwolf13 2009-10-14 07:58 pm (UTC)(link)
So glad to see you back!!

Best of luck this season. :)

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com 2009-10-15 04:53 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks. It's good to be back.

Same to you!

[identity profile] onda-bianca.livejournal.com 2009-10-14 10:06 pm (UTC)(link)
This is awesome.

The bendy thing made me laugh. Out loud. Like a real lol. That's a good thing to tell a potential date. I wish I were more bendy!

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com 2009-10-15 04:54 am (UTC)(link)
Flexibility is a virtue. *grins*

[identity profile] misalady.livejournal.com 2009-10-15 12:09 am (UTC)(link)
Love how you handled the intro.

Good luck this season!

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com 2009-10-15 04:54 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you. :)

[identity profile] beloved-tree.livejournal.com 2009-10-15 01:17 am (UTC)(link)
I really liked this intro. The elevator speech technique framed it well and made it interesting and unique.

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com 2009-10-15 04:54 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

[identity profile] cheshire23.livejournal.com 2009-10-15 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
I like this post a lot. :)

Back when I was still going to UU church instead of Quaker meeting, I was always trying to come up with the "Unitarian Universalist elevator speech" based on something I'd read in one of the newsletters. I never really felt like I got it right - satirical came more easily than serious.

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com 2009-10-15 04:55 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, I agree. Satire is usually easier, especially about religion. *lol*

I'm glad you liked the post. Nice to meet you!

[identity profile] pixie117.livejournal.com 2009-10-15 03:20 am (UTC)(link)
Loved it! Great intro!

[identity profile] bewize.livejournal.com 2009-10-15 04:55 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you!

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