1: This week, we’ve been exploring takeaways from Esther Choy and her book Let the Story Do the Work: The Art of Storytelling for Business Success.

Today, we focus on putting these lessons to work.

For any presentation or conversation where we want to persuade, we start with the action we want to happen. “Truth be told, the ending—the takeaway—is most important,” Esther tells us. We ask ourselves: “If … continue reading

1: Esther Choy was excited about moving into a new house and hired an interior designer.

Unfortunately, there was a disconnect between them, she shares in her book Let the Story Do the Work: The Art of Storytelling for Business Success.

When Esther would ask a question about delivery dates or pricing, the designer would provide lots of information: “I went to the supplier’s work room and inquired about … continue reading

1: “Stabilize the patient” is good advice in the Emergency Room and in any situation where our goal is to persuade a person or group to take action.

For example, mediators are taught to acknowledge each party at the start of the mediation process. Just as “patients need to be stabilized immediately, before any diagnostic or treatment procedures,” writes Esther Choy in Let the Story Do the Work, “likewise, … continue reading

1: As business professionals, we’ve been trained how to prove our point.  To win the day, we are taught to find the right data and evidence to support our desired outcome. 

“Proving is mustering the strongest analytical processes and evidence to support your conclusion,” writes Esther Choy in Let the Story Do the Work: The Art of Storytelling for Business Success.

There is, however, a powerful complement to “proving” … continue reading

1: Telling a great story is as simple as 1, 2, 3.  

Or, better yet, Act I, II, and III, Esther Choy writes in Let the Story Do the Work: The Art of Storytelling for Business Success.

Interested in a master class in storytelling?  Let’s listen in on Stephen J. Dubner, the bestselling author of many books, including Freakonomics, and the award-winning podcast Freakonomics Radio host, as he introduces … continue reading

The big day has arrived.  The job interview we want to nail.  Or, the hard-to-get meeting with the big prospect.  Or, maybe a first date with someone we really like.

“Tell me about yourself,” they say.

Observation one: The real question being asked is, “Tell me something about yourself that reminds me of ME.”

Observation two: We remember the last time we asked someone that question, and they prattled on for what 15-minutes … continue reading

1: “At the heart of leadership lies persuasion.  At the heart of persuasion lies storytelling,” Esther Choy writes in Let the Story Do the Work: The Art of Storytelling for Business Success.

Learning to tell a great story is a skill.  Something we can get better at with a bit of knowledge and practice.  

Today, we will look at the four high-level components of a story, things we should think about and … continue reading

Esther Choy was one of six admissions officers at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, one of the top MBA programs in the country (currently ranked third in the US News rankings).

“Like all top schools, the University of Chicago’s MBA program had far more well-qualified applicants than available seats,” Esther writes in Let the Story Do the Work: The Art of Storytelling for Business Success. … continue reading