I find it hard to give an elevator pitch about what I do. I found this hard at my old job also but it was because I performed a disjointed and somewhat non-interrelated set of services. None the less, I always hated that. I am in a somewhat better spot now as I can clearly articulate what our businesses (Trimtab and Linford & Company) do which I really couldn’t in the business unit I used to work in.

Trimtab Business Technology delivers high-impact technology services to small to midsize organizations. We eliminate headaches and increase profit through technology design and experience… at a superior price.

Linford & Company LLP delivers enterprise level accounting, audit, and governance services using highly experienced people, extremely strong communication skills, and very favorable pricing.

My problem is my personal elevator pitch… like when a neighbor I just met across the street asks what I do. I have a split role as the both an L&C partner and the head of Trimtab. “I am an accountant and a technology consultant” (awkward and confusing, no good). “I do consulting” (sound like I am unemployed and looking for work, no good). I think you probably understand where I am going with this.

The problem is that I don’t really understand why we are all conditioned to think that being both accountant and a tech guy is not possible. Or both an accountant and a sales person is not right. Or a sales person and an operations person. All these functions are so closely connected and intertwined that it seems we should all be at least reasonably well versed in two or three of them. If you are an accountant and don’t understand operations, how are you going to develop financial reports that fairly represent what is going on in the business? If you are a tech person and don’t understand the sales cycle, how can develop technology strategies that drive revenue?

Seems like a lack of consciousness overall to me really and cultural indication that our organizations are still not getting real, deep integration between “the business” and these support functions. But until we solve this problem, I guess I will just tell people I go out and help businesses run the computer and count the money.

Related Posts: