Let’s step into the movie Die Hard for a second. […]
It’s Not About You
Tag: Storytelling
BGBS 039: Denise Lee Yohn | Branding Expert | Some Jobs Are Too Small for Some Spirits
BGBS 039: Denise Lee Yohn | Branding Leadership 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 […]
BGBS 038: Steve Savage | 1908 Brands | A Legacy of Environmentalism
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 […]
BGBS 037: Cambria Jacobs | EGYM | Fit for Life
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 […]
BGBS 036: David Baker | ReCourses | The Business of Expertise
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 […]
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?
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 […]
BGBS 034: Steve “Stix” Nilsen | Liquid Death | I Do Cool Sh*t, With Cool People
BGBS 034 | Steve “Stix” Nilsen 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 […]
BGBS 033: Erik Boles | Gearmunk | What’s Your Favorite TV Show?
BGBS: 033 | Erik Boles | 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 […]
BGBS 032: Chad Mellen & Keith Bristol | Knack | What Would We Give to a Friend?
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. […]
BGBS 031: Marty Neumeier | Level C | Let Yourself Imagine Greater Things
BGBS 031: Marty Neumeier | 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 […]
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… […]
