An elevator pitch is meant to be a quick overview of your idea in the event you find yourself in an elevator with an investor or customer and have just 30 seconds to pitch them.

The problem with elevator pitches is that they are often too solution-centric and have no story. The mistake too many entrepreneurs make is trying to explain their solution in their elevator pitch. That's not the job of an elevator pitch.

The job of an elevator pitch is to pique interest. And if you're successful, to prompt the other person to ask you to tell them more (versus making an excuse to leave). Think of it as a teaser to a blockbuster movie. They don't show you the entire movie but get you excited to want to watch it.

No one cares about your solution yet. So you have to start somewhere else. You have to start by first setting the context that creates the space for a solution like yours to exist.

The elevator pitch is never about the solution. It's all about the customer story:

If you can articulate that very clearly, people will ask you what solution do you have in mind (Strategy of pre-eminence: when you go to the Doctor's office and get diagnosed something you don't know you have, all of a sudden you start asking more).

Elevator pitch template