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Okay, let’s be real. Has this ever happened to you?

You’re chatting with someone—maybe a friend you haven’t seen in forever, someone at a networking event, or (eek!) a potential dream client.

Then they ask THE question:

“So… what do you do?”

And suddenly, your brain just… freezes.

You blurt out your job title and immediately regret it.

Or you start rambling and five minutes later, even YOU don’t know what you’re talking about anymore.

Or you keep it super short, but it’s so vague they just smile politely and change the subject.

Cue the awkward smile. The half-hearted “Oh… that’s cool.” The obvious topic change.

They totally didn’t get it.

Which means:

• Zero curiosity
• Zero referrals
• Zero “OMG I need that!” moments

If this keeps happening, it’s not because you need to sound more professional or whatever. It’s because you’re explaining what you do in a way that doesn’t click for people.

Why People Tune Out When You Explain Your Work

Let’s get honest about why this happens:

Job titles are B-O-R-I-N-G. They don’t tell a story. They don’t create any kind of emotional response. They’re just… labels.

Think about it. When you say:

• “I’m a business coach”
• “I do marketing”
• “I’m a virtual assistant”

All people hear is “blah blah blah.” Not because they don’t care about you, but because you haven’t given them a reason to care about what you do.

And then what happens? They forget you before they even finish their coffee. They don’t think to refer you when their friend needs exactly what you offer. You miss out on connections that could have been amazing.

Girl, we can do better than that!

The Super Simple Fix That Changes Everything

Here’s the magic formula that transforms those blank stares into “tell me more” moments:

“I help [who you help] [solve what problem] so they can [get what result].”

That’s it! One sentence that completely shifts how people respond to you.

Let’s see how this looks in real life:

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BORING: “I’m a business coach.”

⇢ BETTER: “I help freelancers package their skills into premium offers so they can stop undercharging and finally earn consistent income.”

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BORING: “I do graphic design.”

⇢ BETTER: “I design websites that help small business owners book more clients without blowing their budget on ads.”

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BORING: “I run a social media agency.”

⇢ BETTER: “I help service-based businesses grow online without spending all day creating content.”

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BORING: “I’m a copywriter.”

⇢ BETTER: “I write website and email copy that turns visitors into buyers—without sounding fake or pushy.”

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See what happened there? Instead of just stating what you do, you’re showing:

• Who you help (freelancers, small business owners, service providers)
• What problem you solve (low rates, expensive marketing, content overwhelm, low conversions)
• What result they get (better income, more clients, growth without burnout, more sales)

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This approach just WORKS because:

• It makes what you do immediately relevant
• It speaks to real problems people actually have
• It creates that “I need that!” or “I know someone who needs that!” moment

Let’s Do This Today (Like, Literally Today)

You can create your own engaging introduction in less than 5 minutes:

1. Fill in this template: “I help [who you help] [solve what problem] so they can [get what result].”
2. Say it out loud. Does it sound like you? Tweak it until it feels natural coming out of your mouth.
3. Try it in your next conversation this week. Notice how differently people respond.

That’s it! No complicated messaging strategy. No brand overhaul. Just a simple shift in how you talk about what you do.

Want Some Feedback?

Hit reply and send me your new introduction—I’d love to help you make it even better. Or just test it out and let me know how it goes!

Because once people finally understand what you do:

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• You’ll get more “Ooh, can we talk more about that?” responses

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• You’ll start getting referrals from unexpected places

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• You’ll connect with the right people faster

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The next time someone asks, “So, what do you do?”—you’ll be ready with an answer that makes them lean in instead of check out.

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Yours truly, ​ ​ ​ Kristina Portella From Blank Page to Side Business Plan in a Weekend ​Website​

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P.S. If this helped you, would you forward it to a friend who might need it too? We all deserve to be understood!​
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