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
1: Game time.
A small art museum in Cincinnati, Ohio was preparing to launch a capital campaign. To succeed, they would need several major donors to step up and pledge six-figure gifts to create momentum.
“After months of extensive research and networking, the campaign director secured an initial meeting with a well-known banker,” writes Esther Choi in Let the Story Do the Work. The campaign director and the museum’s … continue reading
1: In the early 1980s, Harley-Davidson, the once-iconic motorcycle company, had hit rock bottom. It was “an operation that looked like it was sinking into the sunset,” wrote an industry analyst at the time.
“The legendary but antiquated bike had become the laughingstock of the industry,” reporter Scott Bieber noted.
In 1987, Richard Teerlink became CEO. He initiated a substantial cultural shift and helped rebuild and rebrand Harley. “He understood … continue reading
1: Perhaps you have a friend like Jane.
“She is funny and social, a talker who uses her eyes, face, hands, and voice to pull you in and keep you listening, no matter what the topic,” Esther Choi writes in her book Let the Story do the Work.
Jane is a great talker. Not so much when it comes to listening.
“The rare times when I’m doing more of … continue reading
It is the holiday season. This week many of us will have the opportunity to reconnect with family and friends we don’t get to talk with all that often.
Option one: Have a version of the same conversation we have every year. What’s wrong with the [___] (fill in the name of favorite sports team)? What did you think of [___] (fill in the name of recent TV series)? Tell … continue reading
