How to Upgrade Your Story Endings

Jul 16, 2019
 

Listen to our daily blog-casts on Amazon. Enable our "What's Your Story" daily flash briefing and listen using your Alexa device!

Maybe you've heard that all good stories begin with a really great hook --- a visual or statement that hooks you into the story and makes you want to know more.


But here's another element your stories really need --- a deep, meaningful ending.


Far too many stories endings being told in business today are too shallow. They are too corporate. They concentrate on rational, economic benefits like make more money rather than emotional outcomes that are more focused on how it changes their life.


Let's face it. Your audience doesn't really care about your product or service.... and too many businesses spin their stories in a way that makes the products or service the hero. 



Your audience has needs that have nothing to do with your products or services. .... and it's important you figure it out.


When you begin to tell stories in your business that speak...

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The Importance of Testimonials to your Brand Story

Jul 10, 2019
 

Listen to our daily blog-casts on Amazon. Enable our "What's Your Story" daily flash briefing and listen using your Alexa device!

Do you actively seek out Testimonials for your business and brand? Let’s talk about Testimonials and why you need them.

The number one reason why brand stories fall flat is because there is no human connection with the story being told.
Far too many brands today are focused on their products and services rather than the emotional benefits. Companies are too buttoned up. It's time to drop the corporate veil and start sharing stories through the lens of a human being.

People can't see themselves reflected in a story of a faceless organization.

This is why testimonials, and stories of real-life humans is so valuable to your business.

Great emotional brand storytelling must be told by real people -- and it's going to be especially effective if those people are the closest to the front lines in your business.

A customer

A passionate Employee

A dedicated par...

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How to Open a Curiosity Loop with Your Story

Jul 09, 2019
 

Listen to our daily blog-casts on Amazon. Enable our "What's Your Story" daily flash briefing and listen using your Alexa device!

I know this happens to you — You go to a networking event, or you meet someone new, and they ask you the simple question: What do you do? 

And suddenly, you feel unprepared! It’s like all of a sudden what you do for a living has to fit into this tiny capsule. And it seems no matter how you answer the question, it never feels adequate… and it certainly doesn’t spark conversation.

Here’s the deal — these moments aren’t about selling yourself…. they are about piquing the curiosity in others.

How can you answer that question in a way that will make the person who’s asking want to know more??


The one thing you don't want to do is to answer them in a predictable way.... "I sell insurance" or "I am a nurse" or " I'm with a networking marketing company that sells essential oils"

BOR-ING!

Instead you want to answer them in a way that opens a curiosity loop… I...

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Tips for Getting Over the Fear of Public Speaking

Jul 08, 2019
 

Listen to our daily blog-casts on Amazon. Enable our "What's Your Story" daily flash briefing and listen using your Alexa device!

I see this over and over again — people say things like, “Oh, I could never share my story publicly”, or “I could never speak in front of an audience.” 



Maybe you say this to yourself…. and count yourself as one of those people. 

You’ve already convinced yourself you’ll never be able to tell your story to an audience because the fear is just too big, too enormous to overcome.

What’s happening here is you are putting the emphasis on your PERFORMANCE

.

Thoughts like, “What if I stumble or mess up” and “Will people even like me?” 

create a judgement framework from which you are operating. You are making the story all about you. This creates a lot of pressure, and Your fear of sharing publicly will only increase. It’s a vicious cycle.



Instead, what I encourage people to do is Learn to really tell your story from a place of embodiment. When you appro...

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Profile Audits - What You Need to Know

Jul 01, 2019
 

If a complete stranger were to stumble across your information — whether it’s your LInkedIn profile, your Facebook business page, your website, or even an email that might get forwarded from a friend — would that stranger get a quick idea of who you are and what you are all about? 

In another words, are you properly telling your story on all of your channels? Is your message clear and consistent?

Here’s a quick tip for you today as you assess your marketing funnels. Ask yourself if you are using plain language — or are you trying to be cute, coy, or corporate? 



Conversational is the new professional.

Speak in plain language so your ideal audience can easily find you and understand you quickly.

Instead of trying to using fancy industry language, or high-brow prose…. just write and speak like you would if you were having a conversation with a close friend. 

Write & speak in the familial.



This may seem like such a simple and understated tip…. but I see this time and time again ...

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Women & Money: What You Need to Know

Jun 27, 2019
 

For too long, the financial business sector has been dominated by men.... and educating women about money has come from their perspective.

It's time women take back their power by owning their financial future!

This is an important topic for every woman on the planet. 

We are diving deep into this today with Nicholle Overkamp -- Founder & CEO of Wilcox Financial Group.

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How to Avoid the Dart & Run Technique of Storytelling

Jun 11, 2019
 
 
Tell me if this sounds like you…. especially when it comes to showing up and sharing pieces of your story. Maybe this is you on social media. Does any of this sound familiar?

  • Writes the About Me page on website and agonizes for 3 days wondering if you got it right.

  • Shares a vulnerable piece of your story on social media and 3 minutes later takes the post down.

  • Drums up the nerve again to make another post on social media and then doesn’t show up again for 3 weeks. 

  • Attempts to do a facebook live to try to connect with audience and when nobody joins you live, you swear it was the worst idea ever and vow to never do it again.
     
  • Takes a course on storytelling to try to figure out how you can use your story in a compelling way…. but never completes the assignments because your story is too boring and you can’t fathom anyone giving a damn about what you have to say. 
Is anything of this hitting the mark?
 
I hear these things all the time from my clients… and I see them regu...
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Does Your Story Spark Joy?

Jun 10, 2019
 
 
 I have a confession to make. I spent almost all weekend binging on an original series on Netflix. I watched one episode after another of Marie Kondo’s Tidying Up — a series about decluttering your home. 

Now, hang with me here — because this is leading into something relevant to storytelling. 

If you’re not familiar with Marie Kondo and the Netflix series — the gist of it is she has a 4-part system that is helping people all across the world declutter their homes, clean out their closets, and organize their bathroom drawers. But it goes so much deeper.... 

In each episode, Kondo — who is Japanese and travels with a translator — arrives to help a particular family by showing them how to systematically go through their clothing, books, paper, and miscellaneous areas like kitchen drawers, garages, and sentimental items. 

What’s so fascinating about the show is the storytelling. You can learn so much about people by the way they live — and the stuff they are hiding in their closets, ...

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Video, Video, Video

Jun 07, 2019
 
Video, Video, Video
I’m going to talk about something today that’s a little counter-intuitive considering this is an AUDIO broadcast. You are listening to me using Audio technology… and what I want to talk about today is VIDEO. 
 
But hang with me here. Because this is important. Especially when it comes to Storytelling in 2019.

But Video is something I know a lot of about — and I want to take a minute to share some insight with you on why You should be embracing Video in getting your own message out into the world… no matter what industry you are in, no matter what your business is.
 
Video allows others to see and hear you, almost as if you were standing in front of them in the same room. And you cannot underestimate what this does to help you build connection with people, and help you build relationships in our internet & social media driven d...
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A Mantra To Keep You Going

Jun 06, 2019
 
 
A Mantra To Keep You Going
"Simply Begin"..... I keep chanting this to myself as a mantra.
 
Once upon a time, I set a huge goal with a group of friends to train for a 50 mile trail run.  We trained over the Summer, and often hit the trails of the mountains in North Carolina. The training runs were always long and hard.... but in the end, worth it. We'd climb for hours in the hot blazing sun, all working towards that moment when we'd hit the summit and take in the gorgeous views. 
 
I use those memories whenever I'm feeling stuck or feeling fearful about taking on a new challenge. I remind myself to #simplybegin
 
Sometimes, I want all the answers before I begin. Anyone else with me?🙋🏼‍♀️
 
I want to know the "how".... but all we really need to know is our WHY -- why do we want this? Why is it important? Why does it matter to you?
 
#my...
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