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A couple of years ago, I made a goal of going to every presidential museum... Jan 30, 2024

So far, I've been to:

-Thomas Jefferson
-Rutherford B. Hayes
-Warren G. Harding
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Richard Nixon
-Jimmy Carter
-Ronald Reagan
-George H. W. Bush
-George W. Bush

...museums.

Each one fascinates me because they’re all steeped in interesting stories and history.

You lea...

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5th workshop of 2024! This time, I'm going back to… Jan 29, 2024


…Chicagoland!

Excited to speak at Normandy Remodeling tomorrow.

We’ll be talking about how to…

-boost sales
-enhance internal communication
-and create a vibrant company culture

…all through the power of strategic storytelling. 🗣

The next couple of days will be awesome!


Have a great week, everyone!

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This is it. Today, are the NFL conference championships, and we’ll know who makes the Super Bowl... Jan 28, 2024

Blood, sweat, maybe some tears...

I love learning about the player's stories and how they got to where they are.

So much work. So much consistency.


When it comes to great stories, we need a foe.

People love struggle/victory stories.


In business, we want it to be easy, but that doesn't give us a good ...

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The Story of Westcliff | Stories With Traction Podcast Jan 26, 2024

SHOW NOTES:

SUMMARY: In this episode, Dr. Anthony Lee and Matt Zaun talk about the founding of Westcliff University and where Dr. Lee learned his leadership skills.

DR. ANTHONY LEE BIO: Dr. Lee is the President and CEO of Westcliff University and has led the institution through incredible growth for...

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7.5 thoughts that will improve your ability to gain traction on LinkedIn… Jan 25, 2024

1. Share powerful stories that relate to your target audience

 

2. Consistency wins

 

3. It's a long, long game, but once you get results, you'll know

 

4. Treat LinkedIn like a big networking event, not a social media site

 

5. Offer tremendous value, and people will look forward to giving ...

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I’ve offered something that is good and potentially dangerous to the world. I understand that. 👇 Jan 23, 2024

The companies that fully implement the concepts that I teach in my Powerfully Persuade Through Storytelling workshop tell me that the results are astounding.

They crush their sales goals.

I started making my clients promise me that they will use the concepts I teach for inspiration and not manipul...

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Most of you won't listen to this advice, and you’ll deeply pay for it. 👇 Jan 21, 2024

You're nuts for not focusing enough on your ideal clients.

In 2007, Joshua Bell (one of the best musicians in the world) played music in the NYC subway on a violin worth $3,500,000. 

Out of 1,097 people who passed by, only 7 actually stopped and listened.

Two days before this experiment, he sol...

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☃️ Snowmageddon couldn’t stop our 3 strategic storytelling sessions in Boise this week! 👇 Jan 19, 2024



…and it was all worth it.

The audiences were incredible and committed to implementing the strategies.

The food was delightful.

The winter wonderland was breathtaking.

Next stop: Chicago. 🌭

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It's been 13 years since my grandmother passed away. Jan 14, 2024

Even though she's been gone for a while, I still regularly think of the lessons she taught me. 

She was one of the most empathetic individuals that I've ever met. 

-Her empathy was forged in struggle since she experienced tremendous financial pain during the Great Depression.

-She got pure joy out of...

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If you can become a great orator, you can change the world! Jan 12, 2024

Before my son, Elliot, turned 6-years-old, I had him listen to all of MLK’s speeches. I told Elliot, “If you can become a great orator, you can change the world.” This doesn’t just go for my son but for all of us.

I’ve spent a lot of time researching how MLK was able to connect with his aud...

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I've heard some people say.. Jan 12, 2024

...”I treat the janitor like I treat the CEO,” and that's noble, but sometimes, these same people will completely destroy themselves with criticism.

So, though they value the lives of others, they don't take their own life into account. 

You treat everyone else with dignity and respect - why do yo...

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What I learned from touring Motown Records... Jan 12, 2024

In the late 50s, a Ford Motor plant worker named Berry Gordy noticed something. On the assembly line, scrap metal would go down one side, and on the other end, a beautiful car was assembled. What if you could do the same with musicians…?

Gordy was a part-time songwriter who barely made ends meet wh...

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Intentional Storytelling | Stories With Traction Podcast Jan 12, 2024

EPISODES MENTIONED IN INTRO:

Stories of Leadership
How to Get Involved in Politics
How to Build a Legacy
How Hobbies Make You More Creative
Strategic Networking

SUMMARY: In this episode, Terence Farrell and Matt Zaun discuss how you can use strategic storytelling with intentionality in business to ac...

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2,518 Jan 11, 2024

What’s up with that number? I’ll explain in a moment. First…

Our journey…

- November of 2020, Claire Davis and I connected on LinkedIn. 

- We had a “discover call” and found out we were focused on similar things in business. 

- We started having regular Zoom meetings to strategize how to effectively u...

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Daily Habits for Dynamic Storytelling Jan 10, 2024

The journey to becoming a masterful storyteller is often embarked upon as a New Year's resolution. However, this well-intentioned practice is riddled with pitfalls. Astonishingly, 92% of people who set New Year's resolutions fail to see them through. This begs the question: why set yourself up for...

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A couple of years ago, I read the book, Richard Nixon, by John A. Farrell and was fascinated. Jan 09, 2024

Before reading it, I didn't know much about our 37th President. 

 

Though Nixon had major flaws, he was a very interesting figure in American history.  

 

I was intrigued by Nixon’s level of unorthodox strategy he utilized throughout his entire life, his charming charisma, and his insane grit....

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Here is my secret to tripling my sales... Jan 08, 2024

...Copywriting. 

Fun fact: I don't have the biggest LinkedIn following, and I don't need to.

So many people get hung up on “likes,” followers, and comments that they fail to speak directly to their prospects. 

Most of my posts that convert to sales have very little engagement. 

In business, my company b...

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The silence was deafening, and then you could hear my feet running...👇 Jan 08, 2024

I was on a treadmill at my gym when the severity of the Great Recession was announced on the news. 

Everyone was in shock, and they quietly listened to what all the TVs around them were saying. 

I kept running.

I remember running faster and faster and hearing the words of my father, "Matt, block out ...

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If you talk about your company's core values, you’re wasting your time. 👇 Jan 08, 2024

Don’t focus on company core values, at least the words of those values; focus on your company core stories that exemplify your core values!

Prove to me the values you say you have.  Storytelling paints the picture. 

Share more stories! 

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Wanna build a story right now? Answer this question… Jan 05, 2024

Wanna build a story right now?  Answer this question…

"What are you about?"  Don’t just tell me one of your values; paint a picture through a brief story. 

Here, I’ll go first.  One of my business values is flexibility.  I do everything I can to be flexible for my clients.  I know they live busy liv...

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Be honest. How many of you still print MapQuest directions? Jan 05, 2024

  Stupid question.  Huh?  Well, most people use LinkedIn like old paper directions, when a lot of us have moved on.

If you use LinkedIn like a glorified resume when, in fact, it's a networking event on steroids...

You're still using old directions.

If you use LinkedIn to post your boring case stu...

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How to be a Great Storyteller | Stories With Traction Podcast Jan 05, 2024

SHOW NOTES:

PODCAST SUMMARY: This conversation was recorded in person in Spokane, Washington, with Claire Davis.  Claire and Matt discuss concepts on how you can be a great storyteller.

CLAIRE DAVIS BIO: Claire is a branding consultant who helps people write their stories.  The Stories With Traction ...

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First strategic storytelling workshop of 2024! Jan 03, 2024

 

 …and you probably guessed it, I’m flying back to… 


TEXAS! 🤠

In fact, my travel calendar will start and end with Texas this year.

This time, I’ll be going to Houston.

My goal for the audience: massive change. 

If they utilize the concepts shared, they will:

-boost their sales
-enhance their ...

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