Actually, your branding problems can be revealed at the marketing level. […]
Branding vs. Marketing: The Difference
Tag: Storytelling
BGBS 071: Maurice Cherry | Creative Strategist | The Restorative Power of Play
BGBS 071: Maurice Cherry | Creative Strategist | The Restorative Power of Play Maurice Cherry is the creative strategist for CodeSandbox, an online code editor tailored for web applications. Prior to this, he served principal and creative director at Lunch, an award-winning multidisciplinary studio he created in 2008 that helps creative brands craft messages and […]
BGBS 070: Gregg Treinish | Adventure Scientists | Moving at a Human Pace
BGBS 070: Gregg Treinish | Adventure Scientists | Moving at a Human Pace Gregg founded Adventure Scientists in 2011 with a strong passion for both scientific discovery and exploration. National Geographic named Gregg an Adventurer of the Year in 2008 when he and a friend completed a 7,800-mile trek along the spine of the Andes […]
BGBS 069: Don Wenner | DLP Real Estate Capital | How Do You Instill Grit?
BGBS 069: Don Wenner | DLP Real Estate Capital | How Do You Instill Grit? Don Wenner is the founder and CEO of DLP Real Estate Capital, a multi-faceted company that leads and inspires the building of wealth and prosperity through the execution of innovative real estate solutions. DLP Real Estate Capital is the parent […]
BGBS 068: Coach Jimmy | Speaker/Story Coach | Are You Willing to Be Willing?
BGBS 068: Coach Jimmy | Speaker/Story Coach | Are You Willing to Be Willing? Jimmy Hays Nelson, aka Coach Jimmy, has been a high-performance business coach for over a decade. Jimmy’s unique skill is helping his clients to seamlessly connect their personal stories to their product or service, creating a strong “know, like, and trust […]
Put Yourself in a Bucket
I know, I know. You’re special. You’re different. But know what? No one else knows that. […]
Create a Brand Story That Customers CARE About
What do you want to be known for? […]
BGBS 065: Marlo Vernon | CarePenguin | You Just Have to Go For It
BGBS 065 | Marlo Vernon | CarePenguin | You Just Have to Go For It Marlo Vernon is a recent graduate from CU’s Leeds School of Business and the CEO of CarePenguin, an IoT business created to aid in the care of older adults living independently. After doing time as an international model and squirrel caregiver, […]
BGBS 064: Bill Creelman | Spindrift | You Have to Be a Little Hardheaded
BGBS 064 | Bill Creelman | Spindrift |You Have to Be a Little Hardheaded Bill Creelman is the Founder and CEO of Spindrift Beverage Co., Inc. and serves as its Chief Executive Officer. Prior to Spindrift, Bill co-founded Stirrings which sold to Diageo in 2009. Bill grew up on a farm in Western Massachusetts where […]
BGBS 063: Douglas Davis | The Davis Group | Decide To Learn Something New
BGBS 063 | Douglas Davis | The Davis Group | Decide To Learn Something New Brooklyn-based Douglas Davis enjoys being one of the variety of voices needed in front of and behind the concept. His approach to creativity combines right-brained creative problem solving with left-brained strategic thinking. Douglas’ integrated point of view has enabled his […]
BGBS 062: Dr. Sarabeth Berk | More Than My Title | What Do You Do??
BGBS 062: Dr. Sarabeth Berk | More Than My Title | What Do You Do?? Dr. Sarabeth Berk is the leading expert in hybrid professional identity, and a hybrid professional herself. She was featured in Forbes and is a TEDx speaker, author, and recipient of a Colorado Inno on Fire award for her innovative work. […]
BGBS 061: Beau Haralson | ScaleThat | Find YOUR Success In Its Season
BGBS 061: Beau Haralson | ScaleThat | Find YOUR Success In Its Season Beau Haralson has over a decade of experience launching products and building brands both big and small including Google, Traffic & Conversion, DigitalMarketer, OfficeMax, and many others. Over the years he’s worked with celebrities such as Lebron James and Arnold Schwarzenneger, and […]
BGBS 060: Tim Parr | CADDIS | Own Your Age
BGBS 060: Tim Parr | CADDIS | Own Your Age Aging. Most of us try our best to slow it down. But can you blame us? How do we learn to embrace our age in a society that trains us to want to feel 15 years younger than we are? Tim Parr’s company, CADDIS, is […]
BGBS 059: Chris Kirby | Ithaca Hummus | It’s Simple.
BGBS 059: Chris Kirby | Ithaca Hummus | It’s Simple. Ithaca Hummus. America’s fastest-growing hummus brand founded by Chris Kirby: CEO, trained professional chef, and mustache aficionado. Chris’s career identity began in the restaurant world before he gained the courage to declare that he had a different path to follow, and returned to school. It […]
BGBS 058: Kris Fry | Smartwool | It’s an Experiment
BGBS 058: Kris Fry | Smartwool | It’s an Experiment Kris Fry is a brand pro in love with the magic of ideation and storytelling, armed with the awareness that nothing is more powerful than a well-planned strategy. He is currently the Global Creative director at Smartwool, but has had the opportunity to lead concept, […]
BGBS BONUS 057: Jay Ferracane | Storytellers Are Bullsh*t
BGBS BONUS 057: Jay Ferracane | Storytellers are Bullsh*t Baby Got Backstory host Marc Gutman partners up with good friend and past guest Jay Ferracane on a special bonus episode about the complexity of defining yourself as a storyteller based on the video, You Are Not a Storyteller by Stefan Sagmeister. Want to see it […]
Storytellers Are Bullsh*t
What does it mean to be a storyteller? […]
BGBS 056: Tamer Kattan | Comedian | Listening Is the Cost of Being Heard
BGBS 056: Tamer Kattan | Comedian | Listening Is the Cost of Being Heard Tamer Kattan is an internationally touring stand-up comedian who performed for U.N. Troops in Afghanistan, for protestors at the American University in Cairo (during the Egyptian revolution) and for the really dangerous crowds at The Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland. He’s won […]
BGBS 055: Mike Rohde | Sketchnotes | No One Has Your Persnickety-ness
BGBS 055: Mike Rohde | Sketchnotes | No One Has Your Persnickety-ness How can you dare to do something you previously thought you couldn’t do? Mike Rohde, designer and author of two bestselling books: The Sketchnote Handbook and The Sketchnote Workbook, helps everyday people overcome just that. Through simplifying the art of drawing and providing […]
BGBS 054: Andy Starr | Level C | Different Is So Important
BGBS 054: Andy Starr | Level C | Different Is So Important Andy Starr is a provocateur in the niche landscape where education, business, and brand co-exist. He sees the value in being different and finds comfort in creating change. Even as a kid, he liked being the black sheep. He didn’t identify with the […]
BGBS 053: Shawn Parr | Bulldog Drummond | How Can We Make a Difference?
BGBS 053: Shawn Parr | Bulldog Drummond | How Can We Make a Difference? Shawn Parr is the Guvner and CEO of Bulldog Drummond, a design and innovation company with the purpose of helping leaders unlock the best in their organization, solve a series of challenges, and define opportunities through the lens of brand. Shawn […]
BGBS 052: Tanner Krause | Kum & Go | We Must Be the Force of Change
BGBS 052: Tanner Krause | Kum & Go | We Must Be the Force of Change Tanner Krause is the President of Kum & Go, a fourth-generation family-owned business headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa with 400 stores spanning 11 states. And boy, does he have a story for you. You’ll learn that Kum & Go […]
BGBS 051: Ariel Rubin | Kum & Go | Twitter Is Hard!
BGBS 051: Ariel Rubin | Kum & Go | Twitter Is Hard! Ariel Rubin, Director of Communication for Kum & Go, is a Webby Award-winning digital strategist with over 10 years of experience in social media and content creation in Uganda, Sudan, Turkey, Switzerland, and the United States. Ariel is a master at Twitter, bringing […]
You May Have a Branding Problem If…
Many people can sense that something is wrong with their brand, but few can articulate what the source of it is. Marc Gutman addresses clarity, strategy, and relevancy, and shares the most prevailing reasons for brand problems today. Video Transcript Keith Roberts 0:04 Branding. So my branding guru friend, how does somebody know, if they […]
Podcast and Recording Hacks
We all know what it’s like to face internet connection hiccups. But what do we do when we face these challenges while recording important audio? Marc Gutman shares essential hacks that will give you some slack when editing content. Video Transcript Keith Roberts 0:04 All right, super excited to have Marc, you are a podcasting […]
Make the Decision Right
Asking yourself, “Is this the right decision?” is applicable not only to branding, but also to life in general. Marc Gutman provides a simple solution to alleviate any doubts you may have about even the biggest decisions. Video Transcript Keith Roberts 0:04 Marc, good to see you again, my friend. Thank you so much always […]
BGBS 050: Cory Bayers | Patagonia | Success Looks More Like Activists
BGBS 050: Cory Bayers | Patagonia | Success Looks More Like Activists If there are two things Cory Bayers does exceptionally well, it’s buying a lot of sushi and having a big heart. As the Vice President of Global Marketing at Patagonia, Cory leads storytelling for the higher purpose of saving our home planet. Cory’s […]
BGBS 049: Chris Do | The Futur | Type Is Life
BGBS 049: Chris Do | The Futur | Type Is Life Chris Do is the founder of two seven-figure businesses, the first being Blind, an Emmy Award-winning motion design studio with over $80 million in total billings. The second is The Futur, an online education company whose mission is to teach 1 billion people (yes […]
BGBS 048: Jeff Harry | Rediscover Your Play | See Where Your Curiosity Goes
BGBS 048: Jeff Harry | Rediscover Your Play | See Where Your Curiosity Goes Jeff Harry is a positive psychology play speaker and founder of Rediscover Your Play, with a mission to work with businesses to address their deepest issues such as toxicity at work, creating an inclusive work environment, and dealing with office politics […]
Learning About Wildstory and Brand Strategy
This video is the original, full-length version of a previously posted interview series featuring Marc Gutman and Keith Roberts. […]
BGBS 047: Jamba Dunn | Rowdy Mermaid | Welcome to the Kombuchaverse
BGBS 047: Jamba Dunn | Rowdy Mermaid | Welcome to the Kombuchaverse Jamba Dunn is the proud founder and CEO of Rowdy Mermaid, the first kombucha company to reimagine the 2000-year-old beverage as a plant-based medicine that is safer and fitted to anyone’s palate. Yes, even a toddler. You’ll soon see that the awesomeness of […]
BGBS 046: Tim Williams | Ignition Group | Stand for Something and Get Paid for It
BGBS 046 Tim Williams | Ignition Group | Stand for Something and Get Paid for It Tim Williams is the founder and managing director of Ignition Consulting Group, noted author of several books, the latest being Positioning for Professionals: How Professional Knowledge Firms Can Differentiate Their Way to Success, and international speaker for business organizations […]
Meet Marc Gutman | Brand Strategist and Entrepreneur
A version of this article was originally published on Shoutout Colorado. We had the good fortune of connecting with Marc Gutman and we’ve shared our conversation below. […]
How to Prioritize What to Do Next
When deciding which “bridge” to finish first, Marc Gutman introduces an easy visual way to map out the spectrum of impact and effort to ensure that we follow the guiding principle: “less is more”. […]
How to Stop Building Half-Built Bridges
Each new project/idea can have a valuable place in business. There’s no doubt about that. […]
10x Your Notetaking With Sketchnoting
Sketchnoting is a note-taking format that anyone can do, even if you aren’t an artist and are infamous for not-so-great handwriting like Wildstory’s founder, Marc Gutman. […]
What Is the Wildstory Process and How Does It Work for YOU?
Marc Gutman outlines what work sessions are like with Wildstory when finding core messaging concepts for a client and creating a roadmap for what they should do next. […]
The 10 Principles of Wildstory Brands
Marc Gutman illustrates a Wildstory Brand as one that is a leader in their industry with a goal to have a 100-year-run. With this, there are 10 principles that detail what exactly these brands entail. […]
What’s Hard About Brand and Branding?
Humans are complex. […]
What Is the Process of Working With Wildstory
Wildstory is big on co-creation. […]
What Is Brand Strategy and Why Do YOU Need It?
Wildstory founder, Marc Gutman, expresses the integral partnership between great strategy and great design. […]
BGBS 045: David Barnett | Popsockets | Surprisingly Useful
BGBS 045: David Barnett | Popsockets | Surprisingly Useful From “after-school sports dork” to CEO of Popsockets, David Barnett left a ripple in the world with an invention that revolutionized how we hold phones. And to think it was originally made out of glued clothing buttons. By accomplishing his purpose of increasing people’s happiness, even […]
What is Brandstorytelling?
Marc Gutman emphasizes why the telling of your brand is best portrayed by making your customer the hero of their own story. […]
What is Branding
Marc Gutman defines the process of branding and its role in outmaneuvering your competition. […]
What is a Brand?
Wildstory founder, Marc Gutman, clears the confusion about what a brand is and relates it to our emotional instinct as intuitive creatures. […]
Who & What is Wildstory
Wildstory is the marketing agency for arts, recreation, and entertainment. Founder, Marc Gutman explains more about Wildstory’s mission to après and support their clients in making a better world. […]
BGBS 044: Mark O’Brien | Newfangled | I’ll Do Anything
BGBS 044: Mark O’Brien | Newfangled | I’ll Do Anything Mark O’Brien may currently be the CEO of Newfangled, but you’ll soon learn that he is a man of many passions. Growing up, Mark had his sights set on pursuing a career in the Catholic Church. As a young adult, he landed his dream job […]
BGBS 043: Laura and Peter Ramsden | Foley Fish | Fresh Off the Boat for 114 Years
BGBS 043: Laura and Peter Ramsden | Foley Fish | Fresh Off the Boat for 114 Years Laura and Peter Ramsden are proud fourth-generation owners of Foley Fish, a seafood processing company founded by Laura’s great grandfather in 1906. (That’s 114 years!) Laura and Peter are sure to keep you captivated with Foley Fish’s rich […]
BGBS 042: Ron Tite | Church + State | Everyone Loves a Funny Business Guy
BGBS 042: Ron Tite | Church + State | Everyone Loves a Funny Business Guy With experience writing books about branding and creativity, founding Church+State, and headlining his own comedy show, we think it’s safe to say that Ron Tite is a well-rounded guy. Luckily for us, he doesn’t stop there. Ron has written, produced, […]
BGBS 041: Jay Ferracane | Angry Bovine | Design Is Not About the Designer
BGBS 041: Jay Ferracane | Angry Bovine | Design Is Not About the Designer Jay Ferracane is a former skateboard punk, current gentleman rancher, and most importantly, a gifted graphic designer. Jay launched the design consultancy, Angry Bovine, with an honor for placing brand authenticity at the forefront of design and decision making. As you […]
BGBS 40: Greg Mazu | Singletrack Trails | Trails Don’t Magically Happen
Greg Mazu is the Chief Encouragement Officer of Singletrack Trails, a self-proclaimed nomad and misfit, and an all-around passionate guy. Singletrack Trails is an outdoor recreation developer of trails for hiking, biking, and equestrian use all throughout the United States. Before Singletrack Trails became a national company, it was just Greg and the excitement he […]
It’s Not About You
Let’s step into the movie Die Hard for a second. […]
BGBS 39: Denise Lee Yohn | Branding Expert | Some Jobs Are Too Small for Some Spirits
Denise Lee Yohn is best known as the go-to branding consultant for Silicon Valley’s top companies. But Denise is not your average branding expert. She is a helicopter-flying, passion-seeking, servant leader with the authenticity and insight to blow you away. Denise cultivated her brand-building approaches through her sought after career in consumer research analytics and […]
BGBS 038: Steve Savage | 1908 Brands | A Legacy of Environmentalism
Today we go back to environmentalist, Steve Savage’s roots (pun intended) as we explore the windows that were opened for Steve to form Eco-Products and 1908 Brands. Steve grew up with a lifelong passion for the environment that sprouted when recycling at a young age with his dad. That passion truly blossomed on a life-changing […]
BGBS 037: Cambria Jacobs | EGYM | Fit for Life
Joining us today is Cambria Jacobs, Chief Marketing Officer of EGYM, a global fitness technology leader that uses smart gym equipment to support their members’ fitness journey by providing data-based guidance for motivation and measurable results. Have you wanted to live a healthier lifestyle but felt immediately intimidated by what to do when entering a […]
BGBS 036: David Baker | ReCourses | The Business of Expertise
David Baker stumbled into the role of the “expert’s expert,” but he ran with it and hasn’t looked back. Not only has David written 5 books, but he’s also a keynote speaker on the global stage, as well as a podcast host! He joins us to share positioning and marketing gold. His work has been […]
10 Principles to Becoming a Wildstory Brand
What Makes a Wildstory Brand? Have you noticed that some brands achieve legendary status, raving fans, and higher higher profits, and others don’t? Those brands that become household names and synonymous with their industry? […]
What Is a Manifesto and Why is it A Must-Have for Your Brand?
What do you stand for? […]
BGBS 035: Sarah Kauss | S’well | What Would You Do If You Could Not Fail?
Founder and Chairwoman of S’well, Sarah Kauss created a new product category when she fused fashion and water bottles. Her business was birthed from a passion to find a way to combat single-use plastics and has now sold over 20 million products since launching. S’well is a brand that my family and I use and […]
BGBS 034: Steve “Stix” Nilsen | Liquid Death | I Do Cool Sh*t, With Cool People
Joining us today is Steve “Stix” Nilsen, the vice president of lifestyle marketing at Liquid Death Mountain Water. He has some bold strategies that have proven effects on branding, brand loyalty, marketing, and generating profits for Fortune 500 companies. When asked how he does it, he said “I do cool shit, with cool people, that […]
BGBS 033: Erik Boles | Gearmunk | What’s Your Favorite TV Show?
Erik Boles, founder of Gearmunk, is a serial entrepreneur that has built five companies, exited three, and is now gearing up to host the biggest outdoor industry virtual trade show in the world. As a successful entrepreneur, Erik always has his finger on the pulse of how to build a brand but also realizes that […]
BGBS 032: Chad Mellen & Keith Bristol | Knack | What Would We Give to a Friend?
Chad Mellen, co-Founder, and Keith Bristol, Chief Digital Officer, of Knack Bags join us to talk about how they took a pain point and frustration, turned it into an idea, and then developed an entire company around it. They share what they did, the steps they took, and the sheer determination it took to get […]
BGBS 031: Marty Neumeier | Level C | Let Yourself Imagine Greater Things
What if you were given the ability to learn from one of the leading brand experts in the country? Pull up a seat because we get to do just that in our episode with Marty Neumeier! Marty is a world-renowned author and leading experts on how to build your business & brand strategy. He has […]
What Is Brand Strategy and Why Do You Need It?
“Ta-da!” I had just finished the pitch of my career. […]
BGBS 030: Geoff Smart | ghSMART Part 2 | Who: Hiring Tips
BGBS 030: Geoff Smart | Part 2: Who: Hiring Tips Founder of ghSMART & Co, Geoff Smart is sharing how he studied under Peter Drucker and found his calling to help businesses solve their number one problem; who to hire and how to bring them on the team. As the creator of a Fortune 500 […]
BGBS 029: Geoff Smart | ghSMART Part 1 | Part 1: Yes, You Can Have It All
BGBS 029: Geoff Smart | Part 1: Yes, You Can Have It All Geoff Smart, founder and chairman of ghSMART & Co is sharing how his dream of having a fulfilling job and great life turned into one of the most successful hiring firms in the world. Geoff routinely advises Fortune 500 CEOs, billionaire entrepreneurs, […]
BGBS 028: Rob Angel | Pictionary | Game Changer
BGBS 028: Rob Angel | Game Changer In 1985, Rob Angel, at only 23 years old, took his simple idea and created the wildly popular and phenomenally successful board game Pictionary using only a Webster’s paperback dictionary, a #2 pencil, and a yellow legal pad. Rob and his partners put together the first 1,000 games […]
BGBS 027: Justin Moss | The Pineapple Agency | Bringing People Together and Making Them Smile
BGBS 027: Justin Moss | Bringing People Together and Making Them Smile The Pineapple Agency’s founder, Justin Moss is a passionate marketer whose love for events and music festivals merged to create an experiential marketing company that has worked with Proctor & Gamble, Google, Insomnia, Under Armor, Converse and more. Justin is sharing his story […]
BGBS 026: Laurence Spiewak | Suerte Tequila | It’s Good to Be Lucky
BGBS 026: Laurence Spiewak (Suerte Tequila) Co-founder, Laurence Spiewak, is sharing how Suerte Tequila came to be. While it may not have been the most direct route, Laurence is happy with all the adventures his heart has led him on. Find out how a kid from Philly left the family business for occupational therapy, only […]
BGBS 025: Alec Stern | Constant Contact | I’m Not a Quitter
BGBS 025: Alec Stern Alec Stern was a kid from New Jersey who had a dream of moving to Boston one day. With his passion for customers and his drive to pursue the life he wanted, Alec co-founded the most well-known email software in the world, Constant Contact. He is sharing how his focus on […]
BGBS 024: Marc Gutman | Wildstory | Masterclass: How to Name or Rename a Business
BGBS EP024: Naming Master Class Episode Today we’re talking about the funnel process of naming or renaming a business or product. A name is the first introduction to your product. The right brand name becomes an asset. It can signal differentiation and lock into the consumer’s mind instantly. The right name creates an emotion in […]
BGBS 023: Callie Christensen and Kelly Oriard | Slumberkins | Believe In Yourself
BGBS: 023: Callie Christensen and Kelly Oriard Founders and CEOs of Slumberkins, Callie Christensen and Kelly Oriard share how they started as two best friends telling stories of sloths and Bigfoot for fun and turned it into a multimillion-dollar business. This business is based on all-around storytelling. Stories have the power to provide meaning and […]
BGBS 022: Hap Klopp | The North Face | Origin Of The Brand, Disruption, Quality, & 3x Bottom Line
BGBS 022: Hap Klopp Founder of The North Face, Hap Klopp shares how it was created and what this company represents to him. During his 20 years as president and CEO, The North Face was recognized for being one of the best-managed companies in its industry, for both the quality of its products and the […]
BGBS 021: Frank Shankwitz | Make-A-Wish Foundation | Wish Man
BGBS: 021: Wish Man Creator and Co-Founder of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Frank Shankwitz is sharing how he went from humble beginnings and living in a campground as a child to becoming an Arizona State Trooper and having a near-death experience to becoming one of Forbes Top Ten Keynote Speakers and helping grant wishes of terminally […]
Meet Wildstory Founder, Marc Gutman
A version of this interview was first published on Voyage Denver. Today we’d like to introduce you to Marc Gutman. Marc, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far. […]
BGBS 017: Mike Arzt | Co-Pilot of The Public Works | Born To Shred
BGBS Episode 017: Born to Shred (EXPLICIT) “One of my favorite sayings about entrepreneurship is: If you want to understand the entrepreneur, study the juvenile delinquent. The delinquent is saying with his actions, “This sucks. I’m going to do my own thing.” Since I had never wanted to be a businessman, I needed a few […]
BGBS 016: Barney Waters | KSWISS | CEOs Wear Sneakers
BGBS Episode 016: CEOs Wear Sneakers… Barney oversees all aspects of K-Swiss, the global sneaker brand, having taken over as President at the beginning of 2016 with a goal to bring the 50 year old brand back to prominence and profitability. Barney has driven fast change both internally and externally, and created a breakthrough brand […]
BGBS 015: Maxine Clark | Build-A-Bear Workshop | Everyone Needs A Teddy Bear
Maxine Clark is the founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop & Chief Executive Officer of Clark-Fox Family Foundation. She’s made many impressions with her skills and abilities to have the vision of the consumer and her unique strategies when it comes to branding. While working her way up the chain in her career path, Maxine, at age 48, successfully managed to structure, build, and grow her billion-dollar company based on hugs and love… […]
BGBS 007: Brian Smith | UGG | Living Joyously As a Tadpole
BGBS Episode 007: Living Joyously As a Tadpole What do goosebumps, surfing, Pink Floyd, and sheep have to do with building a billion-dollar brand? Well, for UGG boots, just about everything! You see them everywhere – the beach, mountains, cities – wherever there are chilly feet. The fashionable and functional UGG brand was founded by […]
Storytelling Tips & Techniques
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Business Storytelling Techniques – Your Business…The Hero?
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What Do Your Business, Your Employees, and Your Customers Believe In? – Business Belief Statement
“Are you beige or are you someone or a company I can some of myself in? Is this for me?”
That is the first, subconscious question your customers and prospects are trying to answer in the moment it takes to draw in a breath. It’s the question we all try to answer for just about everything in our lives.
The simple fact is that people across this globe want something to believe in. Brett Michaels was right about that for sure! Look at our thirst for sports in this country. We want, no we need to believe in something. The Detroit Lions (I’m afflicted), the UM Wolverines, and whatever your favorite team is. We need to be in a stadium of 70,000 other people who believe in what we believe. It inherently feels right — because it’s a basic human need… […]
Am I Telling a Narrative or a Business Story?
A common mistake is to assume everything is a story. A story is a series of episodic, influential, connected events that changes a person’s life. More simply put, a story is a journey. And a journey has conflict and energy and obstacles and stakes and things that create a struggle between the dynamic positive and negative changes of life!
We will break down this definition in a later post but let’s assume for the sake of our discussion here this definition is in deed accurate. The key point to understand here is that a story revolves around change. Positive change and negative change. If there’s no change, there’s no story. […]
Top 13 Books for Business Storytelling
“What are the best books on storytelling for my business?”
OR
“I’m discovering how powerful storytelling can be for my business, but I want to learn more. What books should I read?”
I’ve been hearing these questions more and more. The challenge with recommending books always comes back to a question of my own, “What do you want to know about story? The science, the structure, what stories to tell, how to tell a great story, how to use them in your business, etc?” The study and practice of story is a science, art, craft, and passion. Just like if I asked my favorite musician to recommend the best books on music, I’m sure they’d have a list of their own questions and a laundry list of books to recommend. […]
I Don’t Believe in Story Formulas & Neither Should You
Look, there are a lot of people running around talking about story and story formulas. They reference the hero’s journey and promise a formula to make it as easy as filling out a Mad-Libs book. I see the ads everyday on Facebook or in my inbox: “Follow this 5 step formula and you’ll be an amazing storyteller!” Sound remotely familiar?
Sorry, but it’s not happening. I don’t believe in story formulas and neither should you.
A formula – is something that gets a guaranteed result every time.
And I hate to be the one to say it, but in storytelling there is no such thing as a formula. […]
PowerPoint (PPT) is Dead…
Powerpoint is dead.
Sorry, to have to be the bearer of bad news but the sooner we all realize this and move on the better.
That fancy sales presentation with all the best figures and data in it? Dead.
That huge investor deck with 10 bullets per slide? Dead.
That recruiting deck showing your prospective A-players and employees the reason they should lay it all on the line or come work for you? Dead.
All of them. Dead. Dead. Dead.
Look, I’ll answer the immediate objection that you’re screaming at the screen right now. […]
Do I want Empathy or Sympathy in my Storytelling?
Empathy.
Sympathy.
Same thing right?
Well no, not even close. And understanding the difference between these two words and ideas is what will separate your storytelling from blah to Yeah!
When talking story, the words empathy and sympathy come up often. Most entrepreneurs and businesses use the words empathy and sympathy incorrectly and many times interchangeably (which is also incorrect.)
As we go out and spread the idea of the importance of story in business, we find that a many people understand the idea that story in itself makes an emotional connection and therefore makes the audience or the listener empathetic to the story teller or the story itself… […]
What Do You Stand For? – Write Your Manifesto
Manifesto.
Super cool word isn’t it?
Sometimes I just like to over enunciate it. Maaaaan-i-feeeees-toe….
But beyond it being one of those great words like “pants” or “pickle”, a manifesto is something every company should have.
So, what’s a manifesto?
A manifesto is essentially a statement of beliefs that allows both your internal team, employees, and prospects as well as your external customers (only if you want – more on this later) to understand who you are and what you stand for… […]
