Who is your most admired celebrity, author, public-figure, entrepreneur, artist, musician, chef, talk-show host, news anchor? What would you say to that person if you met them in person (in an elevator, cafe, airport, anywhere)? To name a few on my list, Brendan Bruchard, Jennifer Lopez, Shaun T, John Lee Dumas, and the one I sorta got to meet….Bill Gates.

It was my third year leading the Army’s eCybermission program and it was time to take it to the next level. I leveraged a friendship and called in a favor to a friend that worked at Microsoft. I pitched the program and how I thought it would be something that Bill Gates would endorse. Low and behold it worked- we got the opportunity to interview Bill Gates.

The date was set, the read ahead materials had been sent, the recording studio was locked in and I was on a flight to Seattle, Washington to the Microsoft Headquarters. When I arrived, the first thing I did was get a selfie in front of the MICROSOFT sign. Then, as I approached the building I observed the valet parking staff (yep they have valet parking for employees- the campus is very large) and then was greeted by my host for the day. She took me to the studio and walked me through every aspect of what would occur and when, even down to the which door Mr. Gates would enter, the hallway he would come down (where he passed right by me) and the greenroom which I could watch the recording take place. Whomp-whomp. I was disappointed I didn’t get to formally meet Bill Gates but I did get in arms length of him which was something to brag about.

Hindsight it was bittersweet. I was able to get that close to one of the most successful entrepreneurs of all time~ I felt like my dream had been fulfilled. Later when I returned to the office a colleague asked, what would I have said if I had the opportunity to speak to him–I went blank. I truly had no idea what I would have said. I was so focused on the actual recording taking place I did not prepare a “elevator speech”. This was a game changer. I now have a elevator speech and I rehearse it in my head often so the next time I have an potential opportunity to meet one of my most admired celebrities – I am ready.

TOOL: My BLOG – How to Create and Elevator Pitch — Creating an Elevator Pitch, by MindTools (www.mindtools.com)