I just finished watching the DVD "LinkedIn for Job Seekers". There are lots of good tips included but the one that jumped out at me was Jason Alba's insistence on telling a story.
Jason, the author, believes that in the summary section on the profile page people should tell a story and use all 2000 characters. I definitely agree with him about using story but question the need for 2000 characters, that seems like a lot.
I spend a lot of time writing micro stories and feel shorter may be better. Definitely write in a story format, make it engaging, but keep it closer to 500 is my advice. Unless your story is incredibly engaging most people are not going to read the full 2000 characters. Keep it short and engaging and more people will read your story.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Business Storytelling: The Life of Pi
Currently I am listening to "The Life of Pi". Admittedly it took me a bit to get into it but now I am riveted. So much so I did a search on the web to read more about the author and the story. I did not want to read a lot about the story and ruin the spell but I read just a bit about the author on Spark Notes. I found the following quote "The Author’s Note blends facts and fictions about Yann Martel’s own inspiration for the book to illustrate the central theme of the book: storytelling."
I'm not sure I totally agree that storytelling can be a theme based on what themes generally are but I like the idea that storytelling is so central to humans that it is in fact a worthy theme. The story is about survival and the will to live. Can one surmise that storytelling is essential to our survival. Interesting idea to think about.
If stories are critical to survival then are they also critical to the survival of business? As long as businesses are run by and used by humans then yes stories are important to the survival of businesses.
I'm not sure I totally agree that storytelling can be a theme based on what themes generally are but I like the idea that storytelling is so central to humans that it is in fact a worthy theme. The story is about survival and the will to live. Can one surmise that storytelling is essential to our survival. Interesting idea to think about.
If stories are critical to survival then are they also critical to the survival of business? As long as businesses are run by and used by humans then yes stories are important to the survival of businesses.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Business Storytelling: Stories in the brain
Check out this short article on the way story affects our brain waves. http://www.neurosciencemarketing.com/blog/articles/your-brain-on-stories.htm
Most people agree stories are powerful but the proof has been anecdotal up to this point. I have now read several articles describing the process of brain imaging work while people are told stories. It is fascinating and finally hard proof that human brains are wired to learn from stories.
Keep that in mind as create workshops, training materials, keynotes and any other times that you are trying to make your message memorable.
Most people agree stories are powerful but the proof has been anecdotal up to this point. I have now read several articles describing the process of brain imaging work while people are told stories. It is fascinating and finally hard proof that human brains are wired to learn from stories.
Keep that in mind as create workshops, training materials, keynotes and any other times that you are trying to make your message memorable.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Business Storytelling: Steven Spielberg a storyteller
Most of you are probably reading the title and saying, "DUH! of course he is a storyteller, he's told some great stories." Recently a colleague sent me a note and in it he included a tidbit he heard while watching a TV special on the making of Jurassic Park. "Steven Spielberg is a passionate storyteller! When he gets together with family and friends, what he loves to do most is tell stories, especially ghost stories! People do say he is quite good."
I believe being able to tell an oral story is the first step in the process of using stories for entertainment (movies, books, music) and for marketing (testimonials, sales etc.) Practice this holiday season by telling stories when the family gets together. You may never produce a blockbuster as big as Jurassic Park but your stories can help your business grow.
I believe being able to tell an oral story is the first step in the process of using stories for entertainment (movies, books, music) and for marketing (testimonials, sales etc.) Practice this holiday season by telling stories when the family gets together. You may never produce a blockbuster as big as Jurassic Park but your stories can help your business grow.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Business Storytelling: Interview Stories
I just read a great article by Michael Neece, CEO, InterviewMastery.com on the use of stories during the interview process. He gives a lot of the same advice I would give and he does it in a very organized way so that it is easy to follow. The piece that I loved is what he added to the end of his story format, tell them what you learned. That is a critical piece that I had never thought to add. It makes great sense, you explain the whole process and then like Aesop you give the moral. Nice, Michael thank you.
If you would like to read the whole article (if you are job hunting I think you should) the article title is Telling Structured Stories, here is the link:
http://www.net-temps.com/careerdev/career-tools/career-advice.html
If you would like to read the whole article (if you are job hunting I think you should) the article title is Telling Structured Stories, here is the link:
http://www.net-temps.com/careerdev/career-tools/career-advice.html
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Business Storytelling: The Importance of Repeating
Someone sent me the following quote from Henry David Thoreau. She was using it as a helper for people to change. Which of course it does support. I of course read it and thought, that is the power of the story!
"As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives."
The thoughts we tell ourselves are like little stories. We also tend to repeat the same stories over and over. We tell them to children to help entertain but also to teach lessons. We need the repeat reminders even if we don't think we are telling the stories to learn anything; we are learning.
Make sure the stories you tell over and over are positive, learning stories.
"As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives."
The thoughts we tell ourselves are like little stories. We also tend to repeat the same stories over and over. We tell them to children to help entertain but also to teach lessons. We need the repeat reminders even if we don't think we are telling the stories to learn anything; we are learning.
Make sure the stories you tell over and over are positive, learning stories.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Business Storytelling: The Weston Woods Story
Weston Woods, what an amazing place. A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to tour the old studio sites of Weston Woods in Weston Connecticut. Weston Woods is an animation company that was ahead of its time back in the 50's and 60's. They developed a way of animation, different from the traditional cartoons of action one cell at at time.
I can't say I was familiar with Weston Woods but once I got to the property I realized that as a youngster I was the beneficiary of the creative genius behind the studio. The first projects were taking well known children's books and animating them for movies. Their idea was to use the pictures from the book and use the actual text. They produced many of these shorts for Captain Kangaroo. As a devoted fan of the Captain I vaguely remember these movies that were shown.
It was fascinating to hear the story behind the animation. Morton Schindel, the founder, was there to give us his unique perspective. We also had the current president of Weston Woods on the tour. Overall, a wonderful experience into a different type of story.
They are trying to get the old property where the original studios are housed approved as a museum. There are some zoning issues. My hope is that they can overcame these obstacles and everyone can enjoy the behind the scenes story of Weston Woods.
I can't say I was familiar with Weston Woods but once I got to the property I realized that as a youngster I was the beneficiary of the creative genius behind the studio. The first projects were taking well known children's books and animating them for movies. Their idea was to use the pictures from the book and use the actual text. They produced many of these shorts for Captain Kangaroo. As a devoted fan of the Captain I vaguely remember these movies that were shown.
It was fascinating to hear the story behind the animation. Morton Schindel, the founder, was there to give us his unique perspective. We also had the current president of Weston Woods on the tour. Overall, a wonderful experience into a different type of story.
They are trying to get the old property where the original studios are housed approved as a museum. There are some zoning issues. My hope is that they can overcame these obstacles and everyone can enjoy the behind the scenes story of Weston Woods.
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