Storytelling, at the heart of everything

“In a nearly literal sense story is a drug, It reliably lulls us into an authentically altered state of consciousness. It is a state of high attention, we are just riveted. It is also a state of high suggestibility, people are much more open minded when they are in story mode both for better and for worse, because the other side of being open minded is being gullable, we are suckers for story as well.”

- Jonathan Gottschall (fellow at Washington & Jefferson College & author)

Masters of Scale - with Reid Hoffman

To Scale You Must Master the Art of Storytelling

Interview with Scott Harrison, Founder & CEO, Charity: Water

I am addicted to right now. Everything from the guest, to the insights, to the production of this podcast is nothing but top of the line. 

In this episode they focus on storytelling, which is something I personally am focused on improving. When you break it down story is at the heart of everything sales, product innovation, CX and relationships in general. We make connections with people by communicating our experiences to others and better story you tell in that process the greater the impression you will leave on them. 

Even though the focus of this podcast is Storytelling there are tons of other insights about, transparency, honesty, marketing, innovation and most of all continual re-invention. 

Takeaways

In business:

The best way to make a lasting meaningful connection with clients, colleagues and customers is to present yourself / product in the context of your story.

In retail / digital / experience:

You may want to look at Customer Experience starting from when then customer leaves the store, if they buy or even more so if they don't?

Personally:

You are your story, so be open to share it with others if you want to make lasting connections.  

Link

https://mastersofscale.com/#/scott-harrison-to-scale-you-must-master-the-art-of-storytelling/

Is your memory of an experience really what happened?

"He said he'd been listening to a symphony, and it was absolutely glorious music and at the very end of the recording, there was a dreadful screeching sound. And then he added, really quite emotionally, it ruined the whole experience. But it hadn't. What it had ruined were the memories of the experience."

- Daniel Kahneman | TED2010

This is an oldie but goodie. I first heard this years ago but I still reference it all the time.

How many of my memories were "ruined" by one small part of the entire experience? 

Takeaways

In business:

The end of your meeting may be more important than your first impression.

In retail / digital / experience:

You may want to look at Customer Experience starting from when then customer leaves the store, if they buy or even more so if they don't?

Personally:

Be mindful not to let one small thing steal your memory of any experience. 

Video Link 

https://www.ted.com/talks/daniel_kahneman_the_riddle_of_experience_vs_memory/transcript?language=en#t-179598- ted.com

Digital Education, better late than never

I like so many young people, no matter what anyone said to me, just did not care about school. It wasn't until my mid-twenties that I finally figured out that if I wanted to change my circumstances, I needed to get serious and educate myself around my career.

At the time I was programming audio video control systems and was doing well in that industry. I remember one project in particular it required setting up a web server to host images, but I had never done anything like that. So I went to Google and started searching. I ended up finding a group of free tutorials from Microsoft on YouTube, after watching a few hours of videos and some trial and error I set up my first web server and exceeded my customers expectations.

Before this I had never considered that you could learn so much for free just by a little bit of research online. It totally opened my eyes and off I went.

I started with HTML, then JavaScript then Java to write Android apps.

I found more great resources about business, motivation, engineering, networking I could not get enough. Learning just became a habit, I spend a lot of time consuming educational content, doing online webinars and courses. I finally took the plunge started Conexus Technology six years ago, which was only possible because of my continual education over the previous years.

When I look back and see where I came from in my early 20s to where I am now it blows my mind. I would have never made it without hard work, love and support from my family and my Digital Education.

I truly believe that no matter where you are in your life or career you need to keep learning. I decided to start this blog as a way to help others who may have let their school years slip away, or want to advance in their career, or that are business owners that are trying to stay ahead of the competition get jump started into learning. To tell others about all the great resources and people that have helped me on my learning journey.

Weekly I will post links and my thoughts on resources, podcasts, episodes, YouTube channels / video, articles, etc that have helped me on my journey in the past or that I am learning from today.

It is my hope that this becomes a community where I am not the only one sharing great content and resources but a place where others share what they have found out there in the world as well.

Here we go!

- Jody