...I set up time before my workshop to unpack the stories of that area.
What's the history?
What are the sights?
Sports teams people support?
I learned research strategy from my mother, who taught me to always have more data points than not.
You can always cut out what doesn't matter once you have...
PODCAST SHOW NOTES:
SUMMARY: Many people have asked me over the years, “who is your favorite speaker, Matt?” The Speaker that I’ve learned the most from and who has had the largest impact on my career has been Ryan Avery. Having him on the Stories With Traction...
I wanted to appear smart.
So, I wrote like I was writing to my professors. All academic.
My boss at the time told me, “Do you want to sound smart, or do you want to make sense?”
Great storytellers value clarity above complexity.
If you were to take Ernest Hemingway’s...
I’ll be doing 2 strategic storytelling workshops there!
My goal for the audiences: massive change.
If they utilize the concepts shared, they will:
-boost sales
-enhance internal communication
-and create a vibrant company culture
…all through the power of strategic...
We’re constantly on the lookout for…
…others’ mistakes.
This mindset is bogus!
Creating an environment that tries to be mistake-free will crush your organization’s creativity.
Stop focusing on your team’s mistake and how it's “hurting your...
Whether you loved or hated him, President Johnson possessed a fascinating capability...genius-level strategy.
I used to spend countless hours studying how Johnson would play congress like a game of chess.
Though some of his tactics were brutal, I respect how much long-term thought he put into...
Here are 37 things I've learned over the years...
1. Everyone on the planet (even super successful people) have some form of an inferiority complex
2. Great copywriting is a superpower
3. Share powerful stories to get your point across
4. Fight as hard as you can to be your ideal, healthy weight
5....
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....
SUMMARY: In this episode, Terence Farrell and Matt Zaun discuss how our hobbies can make us more creative in life and business.
TERENCE FARRELL BIO: Terence served as a Chester County Commissioner for 12 years, and before that, he was the Recorder of Deeds for 8 years. Today, he is the...
Quick, let's go listen to a story of someone who has it all together and has never struggled in their lives...
.
.
...said no one ever.
Why is that?
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...
SHOW NOTES:
PODCAST EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode, Rajeev Kapur and Matt Zaun talk about how COVID changed 1105 Media’s business and how they were able to be creative to continue to deliver value to their clients. In addition, they talk about the future of in-person events and why leaders...
I've heard some people say, ”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...
Actually, to “make it anywhere,” it takes solid mentorship…
…and that’s been my secret weapon for years.
Last week, met with two of my amazing mentors, Scott Mason and Rob Chenoweth, in NYC.
I'm excited to continue to grow and change based on their recommendations....
No, not his 200,000,000 house in Beverly Hills.
The house he started Amazon in.
I was speaking at a company in Bellevue, and his old house was literally down the street, so I had to see it for myself.
This garage is where Amazon was launched.
Today, it’s the 5th most valuable company on...
It took me 200+ talks before I felt comfortable speaking.
It took me 100+ articles written before I felt comfortable writing.
It took me 50+ podcast episodes before I felt comfortable podcasting.
Want to feel more comfortable?
Find wise people who know what they're doing, learn from them, and...
Take the place of:
-Empathy
-Compassion
-Love
A lot of people are talking about AI, but they’re not setting the groundwork to combat it.
If you want to create a vibrant company culture, you need to have a surge of storytelling…
…because storytelling touches on all these points...
On Aug 11th, 1973 (half a century ago!), 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, Hip-Hop would be birthed that night.
What started...
Here are some thoughts to help you motivate others to buy-in to your ideas:
๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐. You do NOT need to make-up situations and lie to #communicate persuasively. By being authentic and real with people, you’re putting yourself in a position to make a genuine...
Here’s what I mean…
Let's use a writer like J.K. Rowlings 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...
Last week, I was teaching my 9-year-old how to set goals, so I used one of my BIG goals as an example.
He lit up with excitement as we spent an hour going through numerous details.
He even gave me some good suggestions.
At the end of the conversation, he said, "awesome; now you can prove to...
PODCAST SUMMARY: In this episode, Claire Davis and Matt Zaun talk about how they created a storytelling system and positioned it to boost sales and enhance their marketing efforts.
CLAIRE DAVIS BIO: Claire is a branding consultant that helps people write their stories. The Stories With...
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...
PODCAST SUMMARY: In this episode, Jacob Brown and Matt Zaun talk about how to turn failure into fuel for growth.
JACOB BROWN BIO: Jacob is a former NFL athlete turned entrepreneur, transformational speaker, and writer.
For more info, check out Jacob here:
...
Stories With Traction Blog
Over the weekend, I spoke in the Florida Keys. 28th strategic storytelling workshop of 2023, and 1st spousal retreat! It was awesome! Flew into Miami, and drove the entire Overseas Highway. Literally got to the end of Route 1. It was incredibly gorgeous. Love speaking all over the...