Activity called “First Ask, First Offer” from Colin Rocker.

For The Firsts, by opening my meetup with an activity called “First Ask, First Offer“:

• Your “first offer” is something you could offer someone else. It’s your professional or personal expertise, or the products and services in your business. This could be a modified version of your elevator pitch.
• Your “first ask” is the opposite. What do you need a hand with? Whose insight or support could move you to the next step in your journey? This vulnerability may be the key to getting the support you need.

Now, here’s the fun part: You can’t introduce yourself next unless you have an offer that addresses someone’s ask.

What I loved about this activity is that one, it forces you to actually listen to the people presenting to the wider group, so you can keep an eye out for potential “first asks” you could help with.

And second, it turns an elevator pitch into less of a humble brag and more of an honest exchange of how you can help others, and how others could help you.