5 years ago, I was on the way to an important meeting...


The goal was simple, drop my 5-year-old-off at school, and get to the meeting as quickly as possible! 

If I didn't hit traffic, I would make it just in time.

My son said, ”I’m not feeling well, Dad - ahhh!”

He projectile vomited all over my suit...

Even if you've never told a compelling story in your life, you can become a great storyteller!  With a little effort and practice, your storytelling skills will improve, and people will be drawn to your words.

Four storytelling recommendations:

1. Ensure that your presence is prominent

You must...

Excited to go to Anchorage, Alaska! 

Looking forward to conducting my strategic storytelling workshop there and showing business leaders how to utilize a Storybank to inspire their teams.

The next few days are going to be awesome! 

I love how passionate Skamania County is about Bigfoot. 

Plus, it’s been a huge boon to the economy there. 

They literally sell anything and everything with Bigfoot on it. 

Have you embraced what your area is obsessed with? 

This could be a specific food, sports team, or historical figure. 

It might he...

A huge thank you to  Matthew Scura for having me on and for the engaging conversation. 

We delved deep into how storytelling can be a powerful tool for building stronger relationships, creating a greater impact, and enhancing engagement in business.

If you're interested in learning how to leverage sto...

Everyone in our group sat down at the Blackjack table.

One of my friends, who was playing Blackjack for the first time, won a ton of money.

While getting up from the table, the gentleman next to me said, “that's the worst thing that could happen to a rookie gambler.”

“What do you mean,” I asked.

“Now ...

At the time, it was a huge risk. 

I made the decision while staring at El Capitan (in Yosemite) with my wife. 

For those of you who aren't aware, a climber named Alex Honnold free-soloed the mountain, meaning he climbed without any ropes.

He was asked why in the world he would do such a thing, and he...

I remember my Dad telling me that when I was growing up because I was reading a lot of newspapers and magazines.

His point was to read more material (like novels and non-fiction), where the author put more time and energy into writing.

Social media is even lower-level writing than newspapers.

You may...

...formed from an inspirational story that Howard Schultz continually shared early on in his career. 

He would often tell team members of his significant financial struggles growing up and how challenging it was for him. 

These stories empowered the company to do everything they could to develop and...

SHOW NOTES:

SUMMARY: In this episode, Stephanie Crowe and Matt Zaun talk about growing your leadership skills.

STEPHANIE CROWE BIO: Stephanie is the CEO of Learn.net. She is also a Best-Selling Author and Speaker.

For more info on Stephanie:
LinkedIn
Website

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

Essentially, if you're old enough to have changed the diaper of the messenger, you shouldn't listen to them. “Too young.”

The problem is the rate at which information accelerates.

The “kids of today” know how to utilize new business tools that older generations overlook. 

My 10-year-old has taught me...

Here are 5 powerful things that I’ve learned…

1) From Anxiety to Excitement: When you share a story with your team, lean into your excitement instead of focusing on your anxiety. It's not just about telling stories; it's about living them in the moment, infusing every word with genuine passion and en...

Part of me thought he was crazy. 🤔

" S. Scott, do you really think that will work?”

“There are sooooo many other podcasts out there.”

“Do you really think this is a good use of my time?”

3 years ago, I had lunch with  S. Scott Mason (*picture below), and he convinced me to launch a podcast. 

At the tim...

In the late 1950s, 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 would be assembled. 

What if you could do the same with musicians…?

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

Let me tell you, I was not excited to be driving that Dodge Caravan every day during my senior year. 

You should have heard all the names I was called.

My Dad said, “take the kids' bullying and turn it into an opportunity.”

I took out all the back seats and turned it into something fun.

I went from “M...

So far, I've been to...

-George Washington 
-Thomas Jefferson
-James Buchanan
-Abraham Lincoln 
-Rutherford B. Hayes
-Woodrow Wilson
-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 becau...

...how to warm up a room. 

Your talk begins long before you open your mouth. 

Talking to a room of 50 people or less? If you have time, shake every hand in the room before you begin your presentation. 

Speaking at a conference in front of thousands of people? Go to a bunch of sections in the room and s...

Recently, my son Elliot and I visited the Liberty Bell, one of the most iconic symbols of American independence and freedom. 🛎️

5 insights about the bell…

1) Inscription: It bears the inscription from Leviticus 25:10: "Proclaim LIBERTY Throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants Thereof." This ...

So many content creators on LinkedIn want “likes.”

No strategy. Just fluff. 

I know someone who has 1,000,000+ LinkedIn followers, and their business is struggling. 

I also know someone with 10,000 followers, and their business is thriving. 

The difference? One posts for clicks. The other posts with s...

Some of you might call me a sap, and that's okay…

…I'm celebrating 3 incredible years of podcasting!

It's become one of my favorite mediums to share information. 

If you had told me years ago that I'd reached 125+ podcast episodes, I would have laughed in disbelief! 

"Me? A podcaster? You're kidding, ...

Here, I'll go first... 

I grew up close to Route 1. Since I was a kid, I told myself that one day, I'd drive all the way to the end of that road. 

For me, it was symbolic...starting and then finishing a journey. 

Well, I got my chance. I was asked to speak at a retreat in the Florida Keys. 

I flew int...

From January - July in 2019, I set up a mock workshop in my house. 

My only audience members were my son and his stuffed bear. 

I'd give my workshop to the two of them for hours every day. 

Thinking to myself, one day, it won't just be to my boy and his bear but to audiences all over the world. 

For 7...

...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 often invited staff to hi...