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4 years ago, I was at an event, and David Newman, CSP, asked me... Nov 16, 2023

...”how much time do you spend on revenue-producing activities?” I said, ”well, I spend time doing...”

He said, ”no, not revenue-producing!”

I said, ”I do focus on...”

He said, ”no, not revenue-producing!”

*This exchange went back and forth...

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Iโ€™ve learned how to be a better storyteller in business by studying the frameworks of multiple musicians... Nov 16, 2023

-Hooks
-Timing 
-Delivery
-Patterns
-Foundations

If you want to learn how to create a tribe of people around you, what better individuals to look to than those who can dominate a music stage?!

Wanna hear more? Check out the podcasts here. 

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โ€œNewspapers are meant to be read on the way to the trash can.โ€ ๐Ÿ‘‡ Nov 16, 2023

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 their writing.

Social media is even lower-level writing than newspapers....

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Why is no one talking about this mistake?! Nov 13, 2023

There are too many leaders that try to delegate all aspects of marketing.

Do you really believe that Apple would be where it is today if Steve Jobs didn't focus on marketing?!

There is no way.

He took an active part in the process.

Think about all the stories he shared to position Apple.

Because of...

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Up at the crack of dawnโœ”๏ธ Bags packed โœ”๏ธ Ready to fly โœ”๏ธ Nov 13, 2023

Fired up! This week, I’ll be speaking in Myrtle Beach, Columbia, SC, and Augusta, GA. 

Looking forward to showing leaders how to persuade with power through strategic storytelling.

This week is going to be awesome!  

P.S. If you want story ideas, download my 150+ storytelling...

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Think you're too young, or too old?! Nov 13, 2023

Think you're too young, or too old?! 

You're always too something for someone! 

Too short

Too tall

Too bold

Too shy

Too young

Too old

Be too good for it to matter. 

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๐—ง๐—ฒ๐—น๐—น me what you want your company to be known for and then ๐˜€๐—ต๐—ผ๐˜„ me that you actually believe in it. Nov 13, 2023

  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......

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One of my Grandmothers used to tell me... Nov 13, 2023

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...

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๐’๐ก๐ž ๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ก๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐š๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐œ๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐ž๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ž๐ ๐š๐ญ ๐ฆ๐ž, โ€œ๐‹๐ข๐ค๐ž ๐Œ๐ฒ ๐“๐ก๐š๐ข!โ€ ๐Ÿ‘‡ Nov 13, 2023

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...

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The Power of In-Person Meetings | Stories With Traction Podcast Nov 10, 2023

 

 

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...

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How to outperform 99.9% of salespeople: Nov 10, 2023

1) Share powerful stories that connect 
2) Let your competitors drown in numbers

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Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin Group, which is comprised of hundreds of companies, regularly gathers his executives in person and asks them to share stories. Nov 10, 2023

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...

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๐—ฌ๐—ผ๐˜‚'๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ป๐—ผ๐˜ ๐˜„๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚ ๐˜„๐—ฎ๐—ป๐˜ ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ฏ๐—ฒ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—ฏ๐˜‚๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€? Nov 08, 2023

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...

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I normally don't make political posts, so cut me some slack. Nov 07, 2023

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...

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11 years ago today, my grandfather died. Nov 06, 2023

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...

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What a powerful podcast episode! Nov 03, 2023

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

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Over the past few years, I spent several hundred hours networking. Nov 03, 2023

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...

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The Lion Within Us | Stories With Traction Podcast Nov 03, 2023

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:
...

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I studied the art of storytelling for over a decade, so you donโ€™t have to. ๐Ÿ‘‡ Nov 01, 2023

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...

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Wanna hear something really scary on Halloween? Oct 31, 2023

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....

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Did you watch football yesterday? Oct 31, 2023

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.


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โ€œI'm a numbers person, so I don't tell stories.โ€ ๐Ÿ‘‡ Oct 28, 2023

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...

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What Business Leaders Can Learn From Football | Stories With Traction Podcast Oct 27, 2023

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...

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