By name: 20-word-intro description: > Help users craft a memorable, audience-focused self-introduction in 20 words or less. Based on Rebecca Okamoto's TEDx framework for introducing yourself and getting hired. Use this skill whenever someone asks for help with an introduction, elevator pitch, LinkedIn headline, bio, tagline, personal branding statement, or "tell me about yourself" response. Also trigger when someone asks how to introduce themselves at networking events, interviews, on their website hero section, or in professional profiles. Even if they don't mention "20 words" specifically, this skill applies to any request for a short, punchy self-introduction.
20-Word Introduction Builder
Help people craft a memorable self-introduction in 20 words or less that makes listeners say "Tell me more."
Why This Matters
Most people introduce themselves with credentials: "I'm a Senior Product Manager with 12 years of experience in enterprise SaaS." That's about them. Nobody leans in.
The shift is from "about me" to "about you." Instead of listing what you've done, describe what you can do for the person listening. That's what makes people care.
The Core Principle
Don't talk about yourself. Explain what you can do for them.
Compare:
- About me: "I'm an award-winning bestselling author." (Polite nod.)
- About you: "I help new authors get published faster." (Tell me more!)
The "about you" version answers the listener's real question: "How will my life be different if I work with you?"
Step 1: Gather Context
Before writing anything, you need to understand the person. Ask about:
- Who they help — What's their target audience? (teams, founders, patients, students, etc.)
- What outcome they create — What benefit does their audience get? Use the audience's own language, not industry jargon.
- What makes them different — What's their unique angle, background, or approach?
- Where they'll use it — LinkedIn? Website hero? Networking events? Interviews? Each context might call for a different formula.
- What they want to be known for — Current role? A career pivot? A side project? A mission?
If the user has already shared this context (in their preferences, resume, or conversation), use it. Don't re-ask what you already know.
Step 2: Generate Introductions Using All Five Formulas
Use the reference file at references/formulas.md for detailed guidance on each formula. Generate at least one introduction per formula, tailored to the user's context.
The Five Formulas (Quick Reference)
- Benefit — I help [audience] achieve [desired benefit].
- Breakthrough — I help [audience] achieve [benefit] without [negative consequence].
- Strength — Lead with your unique superpower, framed as value to others.
- Passion — What drives you, expressed through the lens of who it serves.
- Mission — Your bigger purpose, the change you want to make in the world.
Step 3: Present and Refine
Present all five versions grouped by formula name. For each one:
- Show the word count in parentheses
- Flag your top 1-2 picks and explain why they work for the user's stated context
Then ask: "Which of these feels closest? I can mix elements or riff on any of them."
Rules
- 20 words max. Count every word. No exceptions.
- Use the listener's language, not yours. If your audience says "worried," use "worried" — not "concerned" or "anxious."
- Clear over clever. If someone has to think about what you mean, you've lost them. "Friend raiser" sounds cute but means nothing.
- No jargon. Skip titles, acronyms, and industry-speak unless your audience uses those exact words.
- End with confidence. The tone should bend down at the end, like a statement — not up, like a question.
- Spark a conversation. The goal isn't to explain everything. It's to get the listener to say "Tell me more."
- Adapt to context. A LinkedIn headline might lean toward Benefit or Strength. A networking intro might use Breakthrough or Passion. A website hero might use Mission. Suggest the best formula for each context the user mentions.