Most companies are all talk.
They write out their “company values” to check a box.
None of their employees could actually tell you all the company values since they're so forgettable.
Paint the picture regarding your values
through stories. Your definition of......
One of my Grandmothers used to tell me, ”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...
While speaking in Erie, I asked someone what their favorite restaurant was, and without hesitation, they yelled, “Like My Thai!”
With that kind of recommendation, I had to check it out, and it did not disappoint.
The owner and chef, Mike Augustine, put the kitchen right in the...
SHOW NOTES:
SUMMARY: In this episode, Carol Kavanaugh-Arrington and Matt Zaun discuss how in-person meetings spur on innovation and creativity for organizations.
CAROL KAVANAUGH-ARRINGTON BIO: Carol is the Director of Group Sales for Outside DMC.
She became an event producer in 1986...
1) Share powerful stories that connect
2) Let your competitors drown in numbers
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 he sets time aside every year for company retreats to position his organization to have a surge of creativity.
If you want ideas on how you can do...
You're not focused on S$&%#. No, not that s-word. You're not focused on...
STORIES!
Say it, “s-t-o-r-i-e-s!”
Your clients don’t want to be read a PowerPoint; they don’t want to be bored by your numbers; they want a reason to believe in your...
But our 8th President, Martin Van Buren, is someone we all can learn from. He was the first president in U.S. history to create a bit of a content (in-person speeches back then) machine. He set up a system that supported his objectives and worked it relentlessly.
We can do...
I'll never forget the last conversation we had together.
He told me that every day I wake up, I need to remember that some things in life are worth fighting for.
“People, Matt; people are always worth fighting for.”
He died 2 weeks later.
My grandfather was the man who inspired me to...
Chris Grainger and I talk about:
-How to use story strategy
-How to schedule out content
-How to connect with your ideal clients
Check out the full conversation HERE.
Most of it was a waste of time.
Save yourself the time, and just do this...
1. Open up a spreadsheet.
2. Put the top 10 people on it that can help you get to where you want to go
3. Think of all the stories that you can share with them that will be relatable to them.
4. Start engaging on their...
SHOW NOTES:
PODCAST EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode, Chris Grainger and Matt Zaun talk about how someone can launch and build a podcast to connect with their target audience.
CHRIS GRAINGER BIO: Chris is the Founder and Podcast Host of The Lion Within Us.
For more info, check out Chris here:
...
I took the most important concepts that I learned and created a 3-hour online course people can go through.
The course launched last month, and I’ve been overwhelmed by the response.
My wife and I celebrated in Vegas.
If you missed getting the course, and you’re interested in boosting...
There are sales reps who don’t have story strategy!
Instead of talking to your prospects all scared, wanna crush your sales goals?
You need to have story strategy.
You can have the same group of stories that you're sharing again and again, because you're talking to different prospects....
That’s the note his wife left him. She also took all their money.
In his early 20s, John Paul DeJoria found himself penniless and eventually homeless.
He desperately wanted to take care of his 2-year-old daughter.
He said, “When you’re this down south,...
Did you know there is a ton that we can learn about business by studying football?
Check out the episode I did with Will Baggett, What Business Leaders Can Learn From Football.
If you were actually a numbers person like you claim, you'd obsess over how to tell better stories, knowing that doing so it would boost your numbers.
Powerful stories boost your numbers in:
Sales
Marketing
Employee Retention
I'm a “numbers person," too, and that's precisely why I share...
SHOW NOTES:
PODCAST EPISODE MENTIONED: Getting to #1 with Josh Rudegeair
PODCAST EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode, Will Baggett and Matt Zaun talk about why some football players become elite athletes and how we can utilize this wisdom in business.
WILL BAGGETT BIO: Will is the Co-founder of...
For years, I was the “facts and figures” guy.
But, I quickly learned that no one felt compelled by the data I presented.
No emotional connection.
It wasn't until I studied the art of storytelling that everything changed.
Learned from lots of great storytellers and also from tons of...
Wearing my Blockbuster shirt, and my son (Roman) asked, “what’s that, Dad?”
I explain to him that years ago, we would drive to a store and pull videos from a shelf to watch.
Then I told him that the gentleman who started Netflix flew to Blockbuster’s...
Just because something is trendy, is going viral, or culturally acceptable, does not mean you should share those stories.
If the stories you’re sharing aren’t connecting with your prospects, you should revamp your story strategy.
P.S If you want story ideas, check out my 150+...
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!
P.S If you want story ideas, check out...
His boss was happy because if she hit a certain amount of revenue, she’d get a BIG bonus!
She got the bonus the first year she was the director.
After a year, over 50% of all the employees found other jobs.
They ran to other managers that would treat them with dignity and respect.
You don’t need to conform to others’ version of success.
Recently, someone laughed at me because I turned down a significant amount of business this quarter to spend more time with my family.
However, this decision was in complete alignment with my definition of success.
Never let...
Stories With Traction Blog
