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One reason that I believe a business plan is very effective is the way that it allows you to reach both short-term and long-term goals. A business plan allows you to focus on the specific steps necessary to take your business to the next level and spelling out what you plan to achieve as a business.

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We all sometimes come up with brilliant ideas for products or services that could change the world, but are they rational? Creating a business plan allows us to create figures and a model that tells us how doable something actually is. Our business plan tells us how much money it would cost to actually make one unit of a product and allow us to measure if that aligns reasonably with what we intend to sell it for, as well as if the business will be able to make a reasonable profit to continue operations.

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By being in NFTE, I was able to improve my presentation skills drastically and be more comfortable in my presentation to groups, specifically my class.

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By being in NFTE, I was able to learn the basics of resume writing. I learned what to do and what not to do when writing a resume. I learned to think with the mind of an interviewer and I learned the general rules of thumb in resume writing.

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NFTE taught me how to think as an entrepreneur and recognize opportunity. The entrepreneurial mindsets do not only help me when I am trying to start my own business, but they are mindsets that will help me where ever I am by allowing me think critically and thoroughly through any problem whether in a workplace or even at school.

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We live in a moment of great opportunity, where information is more widely available across the globe than ever before and advances in technology allow for new levels of communication and innovation.

Despite these historic breakthroughs, 71 million youth are unemployed globally, and in the next 13 years, there will be at least 600 million more young people looking for work than projected jobs.

Why this disconnect?

As a society, we must prepare young people to leverage the opportunities inherent in today's innovation economy. Schools need to teach students how to approach the world with an innovator's eye and a founder's grit, applying the same rigor as when teaching math.

The entrepreneurial mindset is vital to our global future and has become a part of our shared cultural conscious. In the span of just a few weeks, Fivver CEO Micha Kaufman points to the entrepreneurial mindset as a key element to success, while EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® award winners credit the mindset for their progress with 24Hr HomeCare, and Commercial Loan Officer of Westfield Bank, Jeff Honaker, identifies the entrepreneurial mindset as central to a business's growth and overall economic health. ABC Shark and FUBU CEO Daymond John opens his most recent book, The Power of Broke, by stating the importance of the entrepreneurial mindset.

Employers are very vocal about their encouragement of, and need for, the entrepreneurial mindset in the workplace. Over 90% of U.S. employers identified entrepreneurial skills as "very important," and 1 in 3 say that they actively seek entrepreneurial skills when hiring.

At NFTE we see first-hand the effects of teaching the entrepreneurial mindset. The young people we serve come from under-resourced communities, and after completing a NFTE program, go on to outpace national averages in employment, business startup, and income. They approach their education, careers, and lives as innovators.

So how can we activate the entrepreneurial mindset in every young person, now? By incorporating the entrepreneurial mindset into mainstream education.

Explore our whitepaper to learn more, and special thanks to EY for their signature support of NFTE's Entrepreneurial Mindset Index (EMI).

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Every Young Person Needs an Entrepreneurial Mindset, Now

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We live in a moment of great opportunity, where information is more widely available across the globe than ever before and advances in technology allow for new levels of communication and innovation. Despite these historic breakthroughs, 71 million youth are unemployed globally, and in the next 13 years, there will be at least 600 million more young people looking for work than projected jobs.

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NFTE has allowed me to gain interviewing skills and experience that lots of people don't gain until they're either already in the workforce or in college. by being in NFTE, I will be ahead of the game when I am interviewing for a real job or corporate internship.

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As a Business Administration major in college, I will almost certainly be assigned to make a business plan. By being in NFTE, I already know how to do this. I will already be aware of the possible mistakes that can be made and use my knowledge of the business plan through NFTE to my advantage.

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Being in NFTE has allowed me to make relations with corporate offices and important people. This has allowed me to have more open resources. As once stated in class, "it's not what you know, it's who you know". This is a very true statement that will benefit me greatly.

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Mr. Richshafer came to our NFTE class to teach us about dress etiquette for the males in the class. He taught us how to tie a tie as well as general things to watch out for about your entire and how to look professional as well as using professional body language.

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Although I do not remember his name, the gentleman came into our class to speak about resume writing and do's and dont's of resume writing. He told us about how our resume should only be one page as well as other advice in interviewing and advice on connecting with your interviewer.

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In any interview, an interviewer is almost bound to want to know what their interviewee is like as a person. This is where your 60-second pitch comes in. This is your time to tell them about who you are, what you do, your accomplishments, goals, etc.

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Check out this 60 Second Elevator Pitch Worksheet

What is an Elevator Pitch?

This is the 30-60 second business description of what you do and why someone should work with you.
It's called an "Elevator Pitch" because it describes the challenge: "How would you explain your business and make a sale if fate placed you in an elevator with your dream prospect and you only had the time it takes to get from the top of the building to the
bottom?"
Why Is Having an Elevator Pitch So Important?

You only have 30-60 seconds to make a powerful first impression. The attention span of the average person is just 30 seconds before their mind starts wandering. The other reason is people have less time today. You need to grab them quickly or lose them forever.

Essential Elements of a Powerful Elevator Pitch

Concise. Your pitch should take no longer than 30-60 seconds.

Clear. Use language that everyone understands. Don't use fancy words thinking it will make you sound smarter. Your listener won't understand you and you'll have lost your opportunity to hook them.

Powerful. Use words that are powerful and strong. Deliver the "Sis-Boom-Bang" to grab their attention!

Visual. Use words that create a visual image in your listeners mind. This will make your message memorable.

Tell a Story. A short story, that is. A good story is essentially this: someone with a problem either finds a solution or faces tragedy. Either type of story can be used to illuminate what you do.

Targeted. A great elevator pitch is aimed for a specific audience. If you have target audiences that are vastly different, you might want to have a unique pitch for each.

Goal Oriented. A kick-ass elevator pitch is designed with a specific outcome in mind. What is your desired outcome? You may have different pitches depending on different objectives. For instance do you want to: make a sale, gain a prospect, enlist support for an idea, or earn a referral.

Has a Hook. This is the element that literally snags your listener's interest and makes them want to know more. This is the phrase or words that strike a chord in your listener.

How to Craft Your Killer Elevator Pitch

Write down what you do. Write it several different ways. Try writing it at least 10-20 different ways. Don't edit yourself at all. You will edit later. This first step is for generating ideas. Don't hold back. Ideas can be goofy, serious, wild, funny, or conservative. It doesn't matter. The goal is to get at many ideas as possible down on paper.

Write a very short story that illustrates what you do for people. If necessary, the story can be long. You will boil it down later. Paint a picture with words.

Write down your objective or goal. Do you want to make a sale, gain a prospect, enlist support for an idea, earn a referral, or something else?

Write 10-20 action statements. This is a statement or question designed to spur the action associated with your goal.

Record yourself. You can use Jott if you don't have a recording device. Jott is a free phone based service that translates your messages into text as well as providing an online link to the original audio.

Let it sit. Come back to what you've written with fresh eyes and ears the next day or later on in the same day.

Highlight the good stuff. Listen and read through what you've recorded and written. Then either highlight or circle the phrases that hook you with clear, powerful, and visual words. Obviously not all the words will fall into these categories. You still need connector words, but you want them to be as few as possible.

Put the best pieces together. Again you'll want to write down several versions of this much tighter pitch. Tell us what you do and why people should want to do business with you. Include elements from your story if you can fit it in.

Record these new ones.

Do a final edit cutting as many unnecessary words as possible. Rearrange words and phrases until it sounds just right. Again, the goal is 30-60 seconds maximum.

Dress Rehearsal. Run it by as many people as you can get to listen to you. Get feedback from colleagues, clients you trust, friends and family.

Done for now. Take your final elevator pitch and write it down. Memorize and practice it until it just slides off your tongue naturally.

Continue to improve. Over time, always be on the listen for phrases that you think could make your elevator pitch more clear and impactful. And then test it out. Every once in a while you will probably benefit by starting from scratch because things always change: you, your business, your goals, and your clients' needs.

What your "Elevator Pitch" must contain:

A "hook"
Open your pitch by getting the Investor's attention with a "hook." A statement or question that piques their interest to want to hear more.

About 150-225 words
Your pitch should go no longer than 60 seconds.

Passion
Investors expect energy and dedication from entrepreneurs.

A request
At the end of your pitch, you must ask for something. Do you want their business card, to schedule a full presentation, to ask for a referral?

Example 1 of an "Elevator Pitch"
Here is an example interview request "pitch" SeekingCapital.com:
"I have done some research on SeekingCapital.com and know that it is changing the future of private equity investing. SeekingCapital's private equity is a $100 billion a year market, with over 400,000 entrepreneurs aggressively seeking capital at any given time. I know SeekingCapital.com offers entrepreneurs and investors an efficient and uniquely interactive method for obtaining or investing capital in pre-IPO companies. Furthermore, SeekingCapital.com is not an "Internet only" company, but supports its online community with local franchises in the United States and internationally.

From my research I discovered SeekingCapital has decades of experience in the securities industry, investment banking, private equity, and executive management. I wanted you to know my partner and I have worked together side by side for several years co-managing and running the entire Internet operations of a publicly traded brokerage firm. Our competitors such as XYZ Corp. and ABC Capital have not had as much success as us. Our-ABC Capital was recently valued at $550 million . . . despite several limitations.

I found SeekingCapital.com isn't just a listing or matching service, they offer a community that breeds interaction, education, and discussion. They work with companies globally, through all stages of funding, and across all industries. My research also told me that you are anticipating $XXX million this round to be used for employee building, increased office space, and marketing.

I have a compelling two page executive summary that I would like to send you. Can I get your address?"

Example 2:

"Dear Mr. Miller,

My name is Josh Paul. I am a graduating senior from Salisbury University. I am looking for an internship in a law firm this summer. I have had a strong interest in the law since I first enrolled in college and have participated in several seminars of constitutional and corporate law. Although those seminars were ungraded, I have maintained a 3.4 GPA while also participating in several extra curricular activities including the Pre-law society. If your firm offers internships, I would appreciate an introduction to the people in charge of that program. Alternatively, I would appreciate the opportunity to give you a call and/or meet with you in person to discuss your career path and how I might find opportunities within the legal profession."

This example could be used as in email introduction, cover letter, conversation or even in an elevator. The entire pitch is under 150 words. This does not mean that your conversation, email, or cover letter would only include this text. You might also include how you were connected to this person or why you are interested in his particular company, but this is the perfect foundation from which to build.

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how to craft a killer 60 second elevator pitch that will land you employment

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How to Craft a Killer 60 Second Elevator Pitch That Will Land You Employment

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Check out this 60 Second Elevator Pitch Worksheet This is the 30-60 second business description of what you do and why someone should work with you.

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For almost any job interview, the interviewer wants to have prior knowledge of the person that they are inviting to their office prior to interviewing. This is where your resume comes into play. A resume, put simply, is a condensed list that summarizes your accomplishments, experience, education and all relevant things about you.

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Being dressed properly and presenting yourself formally and respectfully are all elements of etiquette. Rather than dressing in jeans and a t-shirt, you come dressed in a suit and tie. You do not sit leaning forward and slumped over in any way, you sit straight attentively. The way that you present yourself is the first impression that your interviewer will have.

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In order to prepare for a real interview, it is advised that you also have trial or mock interviews as practice in order to be prepared for the possible real questions that an interviewer might ask.

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Before coming to an interview, you should always have some basic knowledge of what the company that you're interviewing for does. You should come in with a few questions of your own that you'd like to ask the interviewer to express your interest in the position and improve your chances of landing a job.

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Guardians of Hope was a very well-prepared and run event. As a fundraiser it was very very successful, breaking last year's record and raising over $1M . Personally, I was very surprised and intrigued by the actually attendance turnout and the amount of people that were so passionate about making Holy Trinity the school that it is. I was able to sit down and dine with the donors and attendees of the event and talk to them about what makes the Holy Trinity the special place that it is. At my table, I talked with a few restaurant owners who were friends of John Raitt and were very interested in Holy Trinity as a school from what John had told them. Guardians of Hope also allowed me to network and make good connections with employees from companies that invested money into HT.