A couple of years ago, I read a book by storytelling expert, Annette Simmons. To find good stories, she suggests looking in 4 "buckets": Times you've shined Times you've blown it Your mentors Books, movies, folk tales, news articles and other third-party sources You'll notice that the first three buckets draw on your own personal experience. While I believe we … [Read more...]
Chip Away
As I've mentioned before, my New Year's Resolution is to keep a notebook of speech gold - quotes, jokes, metaphors, stories... anything that might be useful for future speeches. Here is a story I recently stumbled upon and added to my collection. --- In 1955, a Buddhist temple in Bangkok was undergoing renovation. A large clay Buddha statue was to be moved to the new Viharn … [Read more...]
Secrets of Shark Tank: 3 tips to get investors onboard
In a Nutshell: Know your numbers. Make it interactive. Tell your story - sell your idea. In almost every entrepreneurial journey, there comes at least one time when you have to pitch for investment. These moments can make-or-break your business. Is it any wonder that TV shows like Shark Tank and Dragons' Den provide such compelling viewing? I love these shows. … [Read more...]
Persuade Your Audience with the 3F Story Technique
In a Nutshell: You'll have a much easier time persuading your audience when you align yourself with them. Neutralise any sense of opposition by acknowledging and empathising with their point of view. Share stories/case studies of people who have been in a similar situation to your audience. They will relate to the story and gain insight into how to move forward in their … [Read more...]