• What have you been doing?

• What do you know about this field of work?

• How have you made a difference?

• What do you want now or in the future?

To develop your stump speech, go to a quiet place and think through what you'll say.

Here are tips:

• Write it in outline form — not a word-for-word speech.

Otherwise, you'll be too focused on always repeating the exact words. If it doesn't come out exactly right, you'll get flustered and distracted from the message. Plus, depending on whom you're talking to, you may need to adapt the content.

• Develop two versions — a three-minute and a 90-second version.

The three-minute version can be used in a formal meeting or interview in response to such questions as "Tell me about yourself."

The 90-second, watered-down version can be used in less formal situations such as when you meet someone at a meeting and they ask "What do you do?" or if you're asked to give a brief introduction to a group.

• Come up with summary statements that capture the various elements I outlined.

For example, to describe who you are and what you have been doing: "I have 15 years in the financial services industry where I've developed a reputation for building trusting relationships and always delivering results in my work as a financial adviser."

• Unlike the presidential candidates, never go negative. If you're talking about your last job or if you were laid off or let go, don't bad-mouth anyone.

In meetings with people who don't know you, they will be cautious and hesitant if you seem vaguely menacing by sounding angry or resentful. And since our brains seem to give special attention to the negative, this is not how you want them to remember you.

You never know what's around the bend, so don't wait to develop your stump speech. When you're vying for a promotion or a new job, you'll need to sound confident and engaging as you travel along your campaign trail.