The Touchwood Project

Here’s how I describe us in 30 seconds:

The Touchwood Project helps people who want a more sustainable lifestyle but don’t have the skills, time or energy to do it all on their own. We run holidays and courses that give you the know-how, confidence and people to make changes in your life and the world.

We’re based in the Orkney Islands in Scotland, but plan to open several centres worldwide, each  with a local flavour, employing local people, and channeling all of its profits into the local community.

[Older version]

Here’s the latest:

The Touchwood Project works with people who want a life full of joy, energy and making the world a better place, but who don’t know how or don’t want to do it on their own. So we run eco-holidays that teach them hands-on skills, connect them to like-minded people, and help them build lives they love that also give back to their community and the planet.

One of the many things I learned from Obama’s big win (hallelujah!!) is the power of optimism, dreams and hope. It’s speaking from the heart and then following through with the head. It’s having the courage to really go for it and be afraid to say what you really feel.

We’ve been struggling for a while to come up with our elevator pitch, which is saying in 30 seconds what Touchwood is all about.

In searching around the web and in marketing books, the best piece of advice I’ve found is from marketing expert Robert Middleton. He argues that the elements of a good pitch are:

1. Say who you work with
2. Talk about the problem they have
3. Tell them how your business helps that problem

My first few drafts were pretty dry, but inspired by Obama’s victory and the elation and irrepressible optimism I feel, I thought I’d give it another go. It’s long-winded and probably destined for many more rewrites, but here’s how I’d explain what we do in 30 seconds:

The Touchwood Project works with people who want to lead lives that fill them with joy, energy and the knowledge that what they’re doing makes the world a better place, but who don’t feel like they have the skills or confidence to do it on their own. So we run holidays and courses that gives them these hands-on skills, connects them to like-minded people, and provides a community to support them to build lives they love and that help their families, communities and the planet.

It feels good to just say what I really feel, what drives me to keep writing the business plan and doing the cashflows (ugh) day after day. Because what I want is for people to feel good and then to help others feel good and do good too.

I’ll keep at it, but it’s a start.

Tags: Marketing, social enterprise

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