Thomas Clifford /// Humanizing Business Communications

I wasn't sure, but it was something I had to find out.

Cut to: the 9th floor. Paul Williams over at Idea Sandbox. Paul posed this challenge: imagine your elevator pitch as your TV show opening narration. Will it captivate your audience to tune in week after week?

It was a brilliant idea. A twist on the usual. Rats. I didn't have a pitch. I was, in fact, "pitchless." Now I was on a mission; a journey. A journey for that "pitch" that would keep an audience tuning in. Hmmm... I closed my eyes and imagined my pitch.........

Cut to: the 10th floor. Liz Strauss over at Successful and Outstanding Bloggers. Liz invited me to send her a few sentences about what I do so she could include it in her blog. I sent "the pitch." I figured, "What the heck...if it doesn't work, I'll write something else."

Cut to: the 12th floor. One week later. The phone rings. It was Liz. "I love your pitch. Can I use it to help change the world?" (No small task, mind you, this "changing the world business," even on a good day!) "Sure. Let's have a go!" You can read it on Liz's site.

Cut to: the "heroes" in my films.

I always knew they were heroes, but only in my head.

I never publicly called them heroes until a few years ago. Why? Because of the stereotypes we carry of heroes; Gandhi, King, etc.

My heroes are a little different. But the same. The heroes in my world are the employees, the executives, and the "real people" who are featured in a film I produce for an organization. They are the "storytellers." They are the brave ones sharing their heroic journey with the rest of us. It is they who believe in their mission. It is they who inspire us to action. It is they who tell us things are possible when we may think otherwise.

Most importantly, my heroes believe their story can change the world.

Thank you, Paul, for lighting the "fire in my belly." Your encouragement, support and feedback on my pitch is deeply appreciated. You are a hero in my book.

Thank you, Liz, for changing the world by recognizing the power of my story and my film work and then sharing it with the world. A hero, you are, to me.

Thanks to all the heroes everywhere who help make this life so wonderful and magical.

Cut to: the 1st floor. The doors open. It's your turn.

---Tom