Business Map

Why being able to draw your business on a napkin 📝 is essential

How to practice The-Back-of-the-Napkin Business Exercise.

Early in my career, my boss challenged the team to give our elevator pitch to a stranger on an airplane with nothing more than a talk track and the back of a napkin.

What I didn't realize was that I was being trained to attract ideal clients and opportunities by articulating our business with crystal-clear simplicity. This wasn't a party trick – it's a powerful tool for both you and your potential client.

When we distill our offerings into a quick, concise sketch, we're not just organizing our thoughts. We're creating a roadmap that allows others to understand what we do and how we do it.

Here's the task:

1. Grab a napkin or piece of paper and time yourself for 90 seconds.
2. Draw a box/circle (shape of choice) for each of your business' offerings.
3. In each box, estimate how much time you spend on each offering, how much money each one brings in, and your client capacity.
4. Practice drawing and speaking different talk tracks that articulate what you do and the interrelated nature of your offerings.

By mastering the 90-second "business map", we prepare for chance encounters at airports or coffee shops and we hone our ability to communicate our value clearly and confidently in any situation.

Clarity > Opportunity > Connection.