If you want to sell yourself in one sentence, start this way:

1. Make the sentence an open-ended question.
2. Ask it of the other person.

Examples:

• Where are you from?
• What do you do for a living?
• What do you love to do?
• How did you end up at this event?
• How do you know the host of the event?
• Tell me about yourself (not a question but a great way to open.)
• Who have you met here so far?
• What's your favorite part about coming here/doing this/your role?

One of the classic gags in interviewing for a sales job is for the interviewer to ask the candidate to sell them a pen. (This was also a scene in the movie The Wolf of Wall Street.)

Most people immediately begin talking about the features and benefits of the pen. 

• They are focusing on the wrong thing: the pen.
• They need to focus on the person buying it. 

You shouldn’t be selling anyone anything until you get some information. The first words out of your mouth should always be a question. Plus, people love talking about their favorite topic in the whole world: themselves. 

The #1 rule of selling you: The more you get other people talking about themselves, the easier it will be to sell yourself. 

As Bette Midler famously said, "Enough about me. Let's talk about you. What do you think of me?" 😜