Time is Ticking

How much time should an elevator speech take? Get out the stop watch and time it. Work on a script that takes 20 seconds or less to deliver. Beyond 20 seconds, a stranger who is listening to you talk starts losing interest. Cull every unnecessary word. Be specific. Eliminate acronyms, trade lingo and jargon. Make sure your message is clear and easy to follow. If you continually stumble over a phrase or word, find another way to say it.