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Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin Group... Jul 01, 2024

...which is comprised of hundreds of companies, regularly gathers his executives and asks them to share stories.  

Branson said, “telling a story is one of the best ways we have of coming up with new ideas.” 

He has found this practice so powerful that, in the past, he has...

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We often hear that itโ€™s wise to... Jul 01, 2024

...be a “good listener,” which is solid advice, but why do we talk so much about the importance of listening? 

Why don’t we talk about the importance of being a “great watcher?” 

Communication is 80% body language.

If we learn to watch an individual’s...

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In order for YOU to stand out in today's world (filled with noise), YOU will need to share a ton of content. Jul 01, 2024


Here's what I promise YOU...

YOU will offend people; it's inevitable
Not everyone will relate to what YOU share
YOU will question if you should continue to share your ideas

Here is my encouragement to YOU, do NOT stop posting content just because some people don't like what YOU post.

In the last...

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I've had 9 posts go viral. Jul 01, 2024

Here's the brutal truth that I learned...


None of these posts led to new business
These posts sucked up way too much of my time
Some of these posts did not contribute to my mission

Today, I have zero desire to go viral. 

Playing the “likes and engagement” game is a slippery slope....

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The Story of SOLV | Stories With Traction Podcast Jul 01, 2024

SUMMARY: In this episode, Tressa McLaughlin and Matt Zaun discuss why Tressa is so excited to help her team and clients.

TRESSA MCLAUGHLIN BIO: Tressa is the Co-Owner, President, and CEO of SOLV.

For more info, check out Tressa HERE.

MATT ZAUN BIO: Matt is an award-winning speaker and storyteller...

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Amazon spends billions of dollars a year on advertising, and some people... Jun 22, 2024

...wonder if posting on LinkedIn every day is overdoing it! 

Do you want to get above the noise or not?! 

If so, focus on consistently sharing your stories, offering value, and building trust with your connections through content. 

Post regularly!

If Amazon spends more...

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๐ŸŒž And just like that, Spring has sprung right out of here! ๐ŸŒธโžก๏ธ๐Ÿ”ฅ Jun 22, 2024

Summer is here, and wow, my calendar from August to December looks like a jigsaw puzzle of flights, workshops, and (hopefully) some sleep.

To keep my sanity, I've decided to step off the travel treadmill for 2 months and actually spend time with my family! (First time since the COVID era...

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Instead of trying to manipulate people, I challenge you... Jun 22, 2024


...to inspire those around you instead! 

Here are some thoughts to help you motivate others to buy into your ideas:
 
. ๐—›๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜๐˜† ๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฏ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐˜†. 

You do NOT need to make up situations and lie to communicate persuasively. By being authentic and real with people,...

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Steve Jobs helped me out BIG time! ๐Ÿ‘‡ Jun 22, 2024


On June 29, 2007 (17 years ago), Apple launched the first iPhone.

This caused a generational addiction. 

Millennials 
Gen-Xers
Baby boomers

...all addicted to a device in the palm of their hands. 

The invention ripped people’s attention spans from the frame.

Because of this, people...

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What my son doesn't know yet... Jun 18, 2024

First, I couldn't be more proud of my son! 

This school year, he won the award for Incredible Storyteller.

My story | 12 years ago, after a disastrous talk, I remember running out to my car, slamming the door, grabbing the steering wheel, and yelling, "THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN!" 

...

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One of my mentors, Dan Koval is always reminding me to... Jun 17, 2024

...not only work hard but to play hard too! 

Sometimes we get so caught up in the go, go, go that we forget to slow down and actually enjoy life.

Last week was awesome! I conducted 3 strategic storytelling workshops in the Denver area for some incredible business leaders. (By the way, if...

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โ€œMatt, you should be ashamed of yourself; your career path is strong, but your kid's future is looking bleak.โ€๐Ÿ‘‡ Jun 16, 2024

For the first 4 years of my oldest son’s life, I neglected him. 

I was so focused on my career that I'm sad to say I don't remember much of those early years.

Then it all changed. 

One of my business mentors pointed out that I spent more time focusing on my business plans than I did...

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Reflections on the Road to Resilience | Stories With Traction Podcast Jun 15, 2024

SUMMARY: In this episode, Brenda Reynolds and Matt Zaun talk about the 5 Frogs transformational journey and how it can be used to reflect on transitions we’re going through in life.

BRENDA REYNOLDS BIO: Brenda Reynolds is a trusted organization and leadership consultant, executive coach,...

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One of my Grandmothers used to tell me... Jun 15, 2024

”when I tell you to jump, you ask how high! When I tell you to do something, you do it, period!” She forced me to listen to her out of FEAR!

My other Grandmother, on the other hand, would tell me why she wanted me to do certain things. 

She showed me how much she cared about me,...

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She was hit by a crisis. Have you ever felt this terrified? Jun 15, 2024

Check out this podcast episode with  Brenda Reynolds and me for a journey packed with insights on personal transformation, resilience, and overcoming obstacles.

 Brenda shares her powerful story of navigating through a major life crisis in 2008, highlighting the...

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A couple of years ago, I made a goal of going to every presidential museum. Jun 12, 2024

So far, I've been to:

-George Washington 
-Thomas Jefferson
-James Buchanan
-Abraham Lincoln 
-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 

Each one fascinates me because...

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This is Abraham Lincolnโ€™s bed. Could you imagine all the sleepless nights? Jun 05, 2024


All the tossing and turning.
All the stress.
All the fear.

Why? Well…

-He was defeated for Illinois state legislator in 1832.
-He started a business only to see it go under. 
-He lost his run for Congress in 1843 and again in 1848.
-He lost his bid to become a U.S. Senator in 1855.
-He ran...

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Sometimes, we automatically assume large ๐œ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐š๐ง๐ข๐ž๐ฌ will be here tomorrow. Jun 05, 2024


We see these corporate giants dominating market share and think, "How can a small business compete?" Well, spoiler alert: sometimes we’re just plain ๐ฐ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ !

Here’s the kicker – the way we tell stories has evolved, and boy, do we have a megaphone now!  

Thanks to social media,...

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5 tips on creativityโ€ฆ Jun 03, 2024

 

Ever wonder why creativity feels like trying to catch a firefly with a hula hoop?
 
Well, let's dive into an interview I had with author  Barbara Zerfoss, where she shines a light on how to spark creativity…

1) The Power of Creative Visualization

 Barbara asks...

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Something I know now about humor that I wish I would have known years ago. May 31, 2024

Ever tried to crack a joke in a meeting and got silence so loud you could hear a pin drop? 

Yeah, me too. 

Pro tip: telling jokes can be incredibly risky in a business setting. 

You don't want to be the office comedian who only hears crickets in response to your punchline.

Instead of...

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Adversity's Arc: Transforming Challenges into Compelling Stories May 31, 2024


In our quest for comfort and stability, we often overlook the inherent value of adversity.

It's a natural human tendency to shy away from challenges, much like my six-year-old son, who is petrified of "bad guys" in movies. However, adversity is not just an obstacle to be avoided; it's a powerful...

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She donated her entire 51 million fortune to charity when she passed in 2007โ€ฆ May 30, 2024

Anita Roddick was not only one of the richest women in the UK during the 1990s but also one of the most generous.

She didn’t stash her cash in a secret vault like Scrooge McDuck. Nope, the more money she made through her company, The Body Shop, the more she funneled into causes she cared...

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7 things that have increased my profit by 25% May 28, 2024

In January, I read  Craig Andrews’s book Make Sales Magical. Little did I know it would transform aspects of my business. I had to have  Craig on the Stories With Traction Podcast to share his concepts. Here are some of the points that we talked...

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