“So… What do you do?” he asked.

“I work in the media industry,” I responded. I have to admit, it was not my best self-introduction.

Making several new acquaintances in the past week got me thinking. How does one make the perfect ‘pitch’ during that crucial introduction to a newfound friend, potential business partner or a date? Assuming we make our brief introduction as accurate, concise and pleasant as possible, is it even possible to effectively describe oneself in less than 30 seconds?

A great pitch in these deciding moments could turn your life around: a friendly chat at a social event quickly leads to a job interview; striking a deal that would have otherwise been difficult to close; meeting an acquaintance that could lead to a new and potentially fulfilling relationship.

“Life’s a pitch”, as the title co-authored by Stephen Bayley and Roger Cavity suggests. If you are under the impression that making a pitch is only applicable to business dealings, think again.

“If you get the pitch right, everything follows.” How we pitch determines the make or break of an opportunity.

I first learned about the art of pitching through friends in the venture capital industry. I was told, the person (traits and qualities) making the pitch is as important as the pitch (or idea) itself. Above all, they value relationship building and trust.

In an increasingly competitive society, I think we don’t place enough importance on crafting our own pitch. Considering it’s such an effective way to get a head start by setting ourselves apart from the rest of the field.

So give your pitch some thought before the next time someone asks you, what’s your story?

I, for one, am still perfecting mine.