That 1 Ridiculously Simple Lesson I Learnt From My Mentor-at-Work.

Mentors provide invaluable lessons.

Are you able to pick up what those lessons are?

I have benefited immensely from the advice of a mentor when I first started out as a Consulting Analyst. Then, he wasn’t my mentor. He was just another Managing Director out to get the big-ticket deal. We were the little chess pieces he could move and orchestrate in order to achieve the organisation’s goals.

And his goals.

I remember it was my very first big show. I have been preparing for this presentation for 2 months. Deck and all, 25 slides in total. As I wanted to be one “All-In Subject Matter Expert”, I added more and more information into the slides. The font went from Arial 12 to 6. Then the team went for Deal Pitching rehearsal.

Then I realised one thing.

It was a fatal flaw. I couldn’t finish my presentation within the assigned 7 minutes after 3 rounds of practice. And each took longer than the previous.

Sitting in the panel is my “To-Be” mentor. He barely commented on overall Pitch. When he did make a comment, it was directed at me.

“What is the problem?”

I looked up and fumbled slightly.

I think I accidentally knocked over a glass of water.

Resigned to my fate that I am going to screw it up, I responded faintly. “I am trying to summarise all my contents in 7 minutes. I think it is a challenge for me at this stage.”

When the last word came out of my mouth, I had only one overriding emotion.

UTTER EMBARRASSMENT.

And then, of course.

I FELT STUPID.

It was then I would never forget what he said.

“Get into the ELEVATOR.” “PITCH.”

It was a beautiful and simple message. It was an actionable insight. Above all, it was a lesson on conciseness.

Want to get your message across? Hop on an elevator.

I did for that day.

I even timed the duration of 7 minutes in terms of storeys climbed, storeys descent. I went in, hit the lift button and started timing my oral delivery.

Missed by 1 minute 45 seconds.

Okay, no problem.

I hopped off the lift, opened the file containing the pitch deck script (It was 2011 then and I didn’t have an iPhone) and I started trimming the script.

Bit by bit, trip by trip — The script got concise. And it started shaping up.

Finally, I could breathe.

“I made it”.

I went back the next day for the deal pitch dress rehearsal.

I finished my piece within the allotted time and less, which allows for more time for elaboration on the points that matter.

I was satisfied.

And when we eventually win that deal, the Managing Director came to me and pat my back.

“Well Done”.

That was all that I needed.

No, I don’t mean the pat on the back.

I mean, that point of guidance.

It was invaluable beyond words.

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About the Author:

As a Consultant by training, I believe in making the complex simple.

Because simplicity adds value.

Simplicity helps us gain clarity, and clarity helps us to grow.

And if we are not growing, then what’s the point of anything else?

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