Here is the most important framework that I learned...
1. You have to understand your Ideal Client Persona (ICP).
2. You share stories that relate to your ICP.
3. You engage (comment, "like," etc.) with your potential clients.
4. You network (virtual coffee/meet IRL) with your potential clients.
5. Y...
1–2 minutes and in under 20 seconds.
Here’s when to use each...
One of the biggest questions I hear about storytelling is: How long should my story be?
The answer depends on your situation, but here’s the key: people’s attention spans are shorter than ever, so your stories must be concise and inten...
The countdown is getting real.
In less than a month, The StoryBank will officially be out in the world, a book that’s been years in the making.
This isn’t just another “business book.”
It’s a playbook for leaders who want to harness the most powerful tool they already have: stories.
Inside, I show h...
This little building is where Schwarzenegger launched his empire!
I had to go there after my speaking engagement in Cali to see it for myself.
Love Arnold or hate him, there is no denying that he used his grit to build a massive business. 💪
Have a great week, everyone!
What she didn't realize is that sometimes our greatest “weakness” can actually be our greatest strength.
Because of her condition, she was forced to focus on every interaction she had with people, and it was actually paying off in huge dividends.
One of her direct reports told me that she's the ...
5-Day Storytelling Challenge
Whether you're looking to boost sales, enhance marketing, or captivate audiences in meetings, this challenge is for you.
To sign up, go HERE.
Habits of Sales Champions Keynote.
In this episode, Matt Zaun sits down with Ian Koniak, founder and CEO of Untap Your Sales Pot...
When Einstein gave his famous quote about “expecting different results,” he was referring to a mathematical equation, not business.
Let’s clarify something:
📈 In business, you must do the same things over and over…
…even when it feels like yelling into the void.
-Posting when no one’s liking.
-Cal...
Typically, a comic takes over a year to create one hour of comedy material. 🤯
1️⃣ First, they hit local comedy clubs.
2️⃣ Then, they make notes on the jokes that worked the best and prepare to use them on a bigger stage.
3️⃣ If their material holds up, then they perform those jokes in arenas.
...
You haven’t heard Ian Koniak’s story yet.
This one moment changed everything.
And it’s a moment most people in business circles never talk about.
But we should.
We talk about performance.
We talk about revenue.
We rarely talk about the secrets that sabotage it all from the inside out.
WARNING: This ep...
5-Day Storytelling Challenge
Whether you're looking to boost sales, enhance marketing, or captivate audiences in meetings, this challenge is for you.
To sign up, go HERE.
SHOW NOTES:
In this episode, Matt Zaun sits down with Joshua B. Lee, Founder and Chief Engagement Officer of Standout Authori...
Let’s break it down. 👇
If you’ve been following my work, you’ve likely heard me discuss the importance of a StoryBank: a systematic way to document and organize your stories for maximum impact.
But the big question is: How many stories do you actually need?
The answer depends entirely on your “why.”...
If you were actually a numbers person like you claim, you'd obsess over how to tell better stories, knowing that doing so would boost your numbers.
Powerful stories boost your numbers in:
Sales
Marketing
Employee Retention
I'm a “numbers person," too; that's exactly why I share stories!
P.S. If ...
I told him, “𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱.”
But this doesn’t just go for my son; this goes for all of us.
I’ve spent an exorbitant amount of time researching how MLK was able to connect with his audience the way he did.
𝗗𝗿. 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸; 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆𝗲...
...three strikes, and you're out! We’re constantly on the lookout for others’ mistakes.
This mindset is bogus!
Creating an environment that strives for perfection will crush your organization’s creativity.
Stop focusing on your team’s mistakes and how it's “hurting your business,” and teach the...
”Their own private life gets to be like a rat race.”
Since this writing, the ”rat race” has morphed into describing the sad pursuit of a ”good life” but only a step away.
Keep walking and walking and walking, but you'll never get there.
So many of us are trying to win the wrong race.
We’re so bo...
Storytelling doesn’t need to feel overwhelming. It’s not about being perfect or following a rigid "beginning, middle, and end" formula. Instead, it’s about tapping into emotion, identifying your "why," and crafting stories that truly connect.
Here’s a step-by-step framework to simplify your storytel...
...It’s a lesson in scale, innovation, and customer obsession.
This place isn’t a mall.
It’s a theme park with retail on the side. 🎢
Nickelodeon Universe. An aquarium. A wedding chapel. Hotels.
They built a destination, not just a store.
And that’s the business lesson that stuck with me:
Don’t just ...
5-Day Storytelling Challenge
Whether you're looking to boost sales, enhance marketing, or captivate audiences in meetings, this challenge is for you.
To sign up, go HERE.
SHOW NOTES:
In this episode, Matt Zaun sits down with Lisa Dy, a mindset coach and public speaking advocate, to explore how l...
Too many leaders STILL think “culture” is just HR fluff. Spoiler alert: It’s not.
Culture can make or break your business.
Months ago, I sat down with Sel Watts, founder of wattsnextpx and one of the boldest voices in people strategy, to unpack why culture needs to be treated like a business driver,...
On Aug 11th, 1973 (51 years ago tomorrow!), Cindy Campbell threw a party in the recreation room of her apartment building (1520 Sedgwick Ave, The Bronx, NY).
She had her brother, Clive Campbell (DJ Kool Herc), run the music.
Little did anyone know that Hip-Hop would be born that night.
What sta...
Here’s what I mean…
Let's use a writer like J.K. Rowling as an example...
Twelve different publishing houses rejected her manuscript before she finally found a publisher.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was first published on June 26, 1997.
Years before LinkedIn became popular.
So Rowling, e...
Several years ago, I had lunch with a gentleman who had a thriving business (or so he said).
After I told him my business idea, he tore me up. “That will never work. No one will ever pay to learn how to utilize storytelling to increase their sales.”
I went home and whined to my wife about what t...
I’ve never quite understood it. When a speaker cries in front of an audience, they’re connecting with people on one of the deepest levels.
Should they apologize for being real?
Should they apologize for being vulnerable?
Should they apologize for giving a glimpse into their reality?
No.
The audie...
SHOW NOTES:
In this episode, Matt Zaun sits down with Steve Schmidt, Chief Revenue Officer and Co-Owner of Magnetic, as well as Co-Owner and Creative Lead at Spotlight Sioux Falls, to explore how creative content and radical authenticity shape modern business success. From building a $5M company in...
Stories With Traction Blog
