Traditional wisdom dictates that professionals need to have an elevator pitch at the ready, prepared to sell themselves in a minute’s notice in the time it takes to ride an elevator. This pearl of wisdom is true and not-so-true. In the event that you are given the relatively unusual opportunity to speak uninterrupted for 1 to 3 minutes the elevator speech is golden. Often formal networking events give you this chance, although this seems to be less common these days. If yo