The Best Way to Answer “So What Do You Do?” (2025) - Clay Hebert | 054

The Nathan Barry Show

In this episode, keynote speaker and marketing strategist Clay Hebert shares his approach to crafting the perfect introduction.

Clay breaks down why traditional elevator pitches fall short and introduces his 'verb-their-noun' formula to help you create clear, engaging, and memorable intros that foster real connections.

Listen in to discover practical storytelling techniques, avoid common pitfalls, and transform how you present yourself and your business.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:58 Top Mistakes to Avoid in Your Introductions

02:44 3 Common Myths About Introductions Debunked

02:56 Myth 1: Why Introductions Shouldn't Be About You

03:24 Myth 2: Why "Completeness" Hurts Your Intro

04:16 Myth 3: The Problem with Prioritizing Accuracy in Intros

05:19 How to Create Human Connection in Your Introductions

08:06 The Ultimate Formula for Crafting a Perfect Introduction

11:50 The Verb-Their-Noun Formula for Strong Introductions

16:09 How to Avoid Buzzwords and Tell Simple, Impactful Stories

20:52 How to Use Intrigue to Capture Attention in Your Intro

28:37 Why Clarity Is the Key to Effective Communication

31:14 Using Analogies to Make Your Introductions Clearer

32:05 How to Make Your Intro Referable and Shareable

34:19 How to Craft Transformation-Based Introductions That Engage

35:46 How to Make Your Introduction Short, Memorable, and Impactful

42:03 The Power of Storytelling in Making Memorable Intros

44:03 How Customer Success Stories Can Improve Your Introduction

50:04 Scalability of Effective Intros

54:42 Closing Thoughts

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Featured in this episode:

Clay Hebert: https://www.clayhebert.com/

Nathan Barry: https://www.nathanbarry.com/

Monster Energy: https://www.monsterenergy.com/

Liquid Death: https://www.liquiddeath.com/

Seth Godin: https://www.sethgodin.com/

Gary Vaynerchuk: https://www.garyvaynerchuk.com/

Jeff Spencer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjeffspencer/

Sean Stevenson: https://www.sleepsmarter.com/

Tim Grahl: https://timgrahl.com/

Kit: https://www.kit.com/

Craft & Commerce: https://conference.kit.com/

Donald Miller: https://www.donaldmiller.com/

Nisha Bora: https://rainbowplantlife.com/about/

Moo: https://www.moo.com/

Indiegogo: https://www.indiegogo.com/

Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/

Quartz: https://www.qz.com/

Highlights:

03:37 Why Intros Shouldn't Be Complete

09:44 How to Increase Your Luck Surface Area in Business

29:34 How Clarity Drives Higher Conversion Rates

42:27 The Power of Strong Copywriting

47:22 Kit's Example: Using Customer Transformation Stories