Pivot Storytelling And Business Growth

At a reinvention point in your life or business? Nervous?⁠
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Times are odd, for sure. ⁠
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Know that, right now, you are in the part of your own story where you get to change and grow. ⁠
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You’ve arrived at a fork in your road that is guarded by beasts of doubt and fog. ⁠
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Now, instead of falling down the dragon’s gullet, you get to stand and defeat that beast. In turn, you’ll have new stories to tell.⁠
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Change is not the end, but a place to grow from. Story after story from all over the world teaches us this.

This is audio from a video I posted on Facebook. Talking a bit about the issues of reinvention, losing "an office," and moving forward. 

Original at 

https://www.facebook.com/seantells/videos/10157385327007078/

Thanks for listening. 

::: However, entrepreneurs think they can do better with slogans and catchphrases. We ignore the time-skating power of narratives (story fable anecdote) to attract others ... and trade that power for marketing malarkey like "treating people right" or "here have a coupon." :::

Sean Buvala at morethanspeaking.com 

Toothbrush Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash

Opening up the open loop of stories. Craft your stories to challenge the audience to really want the next step. 

"Open loops" disrupt thinking. Use them to keep your audience connected to your story, your teaching, your message.

We can help: morethanspeaking.com

So, do you need to be drowning before you seek out coaching and mentorship? Here's a story and some anecdotes about the role of mentoring and coaching to find your stories and anecdotes. 

Coaching? Follow the directions at the bottom of the article at: morethanspeaking.com

FB for my latest: https://www.facebook.com/seantells

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Episode Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash

Music from Incompetech. Used under CC license. 

Got the "alligator thoughts" of a struggling business?

Just under the surface, many business owners and entrepreneurs have fears. I've had these annoying, wake-me-up-at-night alligator-like questions:

• Will there be enough?

• Where are my customers?

• Why don't they "get" it?

• Can I keep the doors open?

• Am I gonna have to get a "real" job?

• Why won't my business grow?

I know those days, those challenges, exist. I've learned, however, to banish those doubts, to speak the language of my clients, to connect with them, using effective stories, anecdotes, and deep listening.

Folks are shocked that I tell them to "listen" as a tool for brand storytelling.

I've been teaching this process of business growth for decades. By now, entrepreneurs know that they must use story to connect. It's no longer some far-out, touchy-feely, or soft-skills theory.

→ But.  LISTEN TO LEARN more ↓

About our work: http://morethanspeaking.com

Slogans suck. Stories invite, create, and sell. 

It's open season on reopening your business? Okay, but all I see are these:

• "Here's a coupon."
  
• "We're super-duper clean."
  
• "Our staff can't wait."
  
• "We have new specials."
  
• "Now more than ever..blah blah."
  

Ewwww. 

You can do better! So, here's some gently-offered tough love for leaders...

Let us know if we can help you out. clickforcoaching.com

NOTE: Here is a written version of this podcast: https://www.facebook.com/seantells/posts/10157254548327078

So, here's my story of talking to nonprofit volunteers who liked puppies but didn't know anything else. Stories carry the basket of facts and information. Teach your volunteers and front-line people to speak your story. Small biz and nonprofits....this one is especially for you. morethanspeaking.com 

You know, storytelling is a baseline, bedrock way to communicate with anyone from the classroom to the boardroom. But don't get caught in magical thinking and think that storytelling is going to solve all your company's problems. It won't. An adaptation of an article I wrote for Medium at this link here. 

Sean Buvala talks about 3.25 things you can do in a crisis including striving for authenticity, being a resource, and listening to your clients. Also, .25 is getting rid of a phrase in your business communications.  Learn more about our work at morethanspeaking.com

Sean Buvala talks about metaphor and stories to be used for your business. Visit us at morethanspeaking.com.