Business of Story

No matter what end of the spectrum you’re on, politics is exhausting. In our world of fake news, Russian hacks, controversies, and conspiracies, the endless cycle wears us down. Almost every facet of our lives has become politicized, and with it, our society has become completely polarized. Even slight ideological differences can turn similar people into bitter enemies. We’re stuck in a deadlock, and without communication between parties, no progress will be made. Our guest today has a bold plan to untangle our politics.  Richard Lang, author of Virtual Country: Strategy for 21st Century Democracy and founder of Burst joins us to explain his plan to create a safe space for political discourse. By taking away the labels of Republican and Democrat, issues become about the individuals and their stories. Richard explains that our government has become influenced by money, rather than values. National Town Square would take control of the wealthy and place it back in the hands of the voters. On today’s episode, Richard explains the conception of his idea, how to create a neutral environment for discussion, and how you can voice your opinions and ideas in your story. Tune in today, and learn how each of us has a voice that can change the world. Become a Master Storyteller Grab your free copy of The 5 Stages of Grief in Telling YOUR Business Story: http://bit.ly/getyourbrandstorystraight Like what you hear? Bring Park to your next event.  

The classic elevator pitch is the best way to make someone not care about you. There’s nothing more effective at making your audience fall asleep than a rigid, over-rehearsed, inauthentic bit about yourself, and all too many business leaders rely on one. Your personal brand is the most important of all, and without a proper way to convey yourself and your service, you risk being ignored. But there are a few simple methods for you to bolster your personal brand by creating a flexible, authentic narrative for sparking interest in any situation. To learn how we’ve invited the ‘black belt of branding’ to the show. Ryan Foland is a professional in the art of brand simplification. Founder of InfluenceTree and host of the World of Speakers Podcast. Ryan travels the globe to help leaders improve their communications. I have teamed with Ryan to create a new ebook, The 5 Stages of Grief in Telling Your Business Story, that will launch at Social Media Marketing World during my Business of Story workshop on Wednesday, February 28. With his innovative 3-1-3 method, Ryan can help you discover and grow your own personal brand. Tune in today and learn how reframing your personal brand can expand your influence, build stronger relationships, and boost your revenue. Become a Master Storyteller Grab your free copy of The 5 Stages of Grief in Telling YOUR Business Story: http://bit.ly/getyourbrandstorystraight Like what you hear? Bring Park to your next event.  

Launching Business of Story two years ago at the young age of 55, I realized that I was the proverbial middle-aged-one-arm-paperhanger finding clients, serving their needs, marketing my wares and paying the bills. Personally, not a pretty story. Then I decided to add this podcast. Why not? I already wasn't sleeping at night. May as well use that time for something productive. Plus, it took my attention away from my churning belly. Do you know the feeling? If you're a purpose-driven solopreneur, a startup founder or leader of a young growing enterprise, you know how quickly important but worthless (at least to your growth) tasks can define you.  With the weight of the world on our shoulders, it often seems impossible to find someone able to do what you do. But there is a solution. With the right help, you can take back your life and focus what is most important. Jess Ostroff is our special guest this week. She is one of the first virtual team members to help start the Business of Story Podcast. Her invaluable help made our show a reality. And me a helluva a lot saner. As founder of Don’t Panic Management and author of the new book, Panic Proof: How the Right Virtual Assistant Can Save Your Sanity and Grow Your Business, Jess is a business veteran who started her business to help coordinate business leaders with the right virtual assistant. Don't Panic Managment helps overworked leaders minimize stress, and create a better flow for the company. Today she’s bringing her set of values and storytelling techniques to help you build a better brand and jumpstart your new, focused life. BTW, her book is one of the best examples of storytelling in business and branding that I've seen since reading Phil Knight's memoir, Shoe Dog. Only Jess' is funnier and much more endearing as she strolls the shoals of mayhem and mastery. Become a Master Storyteller Grab your free copy of The 5 Stages of Grief in Telling YOUR Business Story, check out: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/vn00zi042y Keynote Speaker | Brand Strategy & Workshops | Story Raconteur Park Howell is an international keynote speaker who teaches people and organizations across the world the applied science and bewitchery of story. He makes brand stories crystal clear through his proven Story Cycle system that works every single time that's helped companies grow as much as 400 percent.  International brands Park's worked with include Hilton, Coca-Cola, Beyer Pharmaceutical, Cummins Diesel, American Express, American Marketing Association, Arizona State University, United States Air Force and dozens more. Learn more about working with Park to get your brand story straight.  

When I saw James Cameron’s Titanic, I had a fairly good idea of how it would end. I knew the entire sequence of events of this historic voyage before I’d ever set foot in that theater. But once I was in, once I saw the incredible story being laid out before me, I knew that this well-known event was a timeless journey. When a story is told just right, you can experience it over and over with the same emotional strength as when you first heard it. With the right tools, your brand story can be retellable too. Jay Golden, the founder of Retellable, shares how to make your story a timeless tale. Author of Retellable: How Your Essential Stories Unlock Power and Purpose, Jay is an expert in creating stories that are expressive, powerful and applicable in any situation. In his own words, “for a story to change the world, it has to change you first." Jay introduces you to his four-step journey model, tips for crafting an overarching story for your brand, and how to make your brand story retellable for any audience.  Become a Master Storyteller Grab your free copy of The 5 Stages of Grief in Telling YOUR Business Story: http://bit.ly/getyourbrandstorystraight Like what you hear? Bring Park to your next event.  

Businesses are quickly realizing the power of brand story marketing. When you have an authentic story with values your customers can relate to, your prospects of success skyrocket. But for many, crafting a story may seem like a difficult task. What do you focus on? Where do you begin? These questions are more common than you think, and to help you clarify your business’ purpose and find your story, we will demonstrate our Story Cycle System for you. George Grombacher, Phoenix entrepreneur, financial advisor and host of the Money Savage Podcast, is here to find his brand purpose for his new business, Money Peace University. George's goal is to help companies and their employees find peace of mind in regards to their finances. We’ve given him our DIY Guide to Craft And Tell Compelling Brand Stories That Sell workbook, and I guide him through the steps of the proven 10-step process to clarify his purpose and brand story. You can do the same as you follow along and apply my guidance to George to your story.  Become a Master Storyteller Grab your free copy of The 5 Stages of Grief in Telling YOUR Business Story: http://bit.ly/getyourbrandstorystraight Like what you hear? Bring Park to your next event.  

There’s only one way for someone to see through your eyes. When you listen to a story, a remarkable phenomenon occurs in your mind. Your brain begins firing off what is known as mirror-neurons, creating the sensation that you are actually living through that experience!  Storytelling is the most powerful method of communication because when the mirror-neurons activate, your audience will feel whatever senses, emotions, and ideas you are trying to convey. With this knowledge at hand, how can you best utilize your story to create the biggest impact on your customers? Our guest this week will guide you towards the answer. Sheila Carroll is a professional storyteller, with more than thirty years of experience under her belt. Sheila is a storytelling coach with a unique method of helping small businesses find their story. How does she do this? By looking at their favorite movie! Today, Sheila will share her five simple methods of getting your story to stick, the power of mirror-neurons, and how early memories are the cornerstone for memorable life stories. Join us today and learn how to rise above the rest and fully engage with your audience. Become a Master Storyteller Grab your free copy of The 5 Stages of Grief in Telling YOUR Business Story, check out: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/vn00zi042y Keynote Speaker | Brand Strategy & Workshops | Story Raconteur Park Howell is an international keynote speaker who teaches people and organizations across the world the applied science and bewitchery of story. He makes brand stories crystal clear through his proven Story Cycle system that works every single time that's helped companies grow as much as 400 percent.  International brands Park's worked with include Hilton, Coca-Cola, Beyer Pharmaceutical, Cummins Diesel, American Express, American Marketing Association, Arizona State University, United States Air Force and dozens more. Learn more about working with Park to get your brand story straight.  

You might not realize it, but right now you are in the middle of your own Hero’s Journey. Your lifelong story of triumph, defeat, and resurgence has brought you to where you stand today, with your experiences and wisdom building your character. When we reflect on our journey, we often think of our own personal growth. But what about the impact we have made on our friends, family, peers and beyond? Every day, we inspire, change, and support the people around us by simply living our lives. In this episode, we are going to show you how to channel your personal Hero’s Journey into creating a story that humanizes you, your brand, and most importantly, your audience. Joining us today is Miri Rodriguez, a story brand marketing master. She is an award-winning creative journalist, two-time participant in Microsoft’s #MySkills4Afrika program, and volunteer business consultant and brand coach. Miri's experience in storytelling with Microsoft has helped her create her four pillars of story that the tech giant uses to humanize its brand, and today she will be teaching you how to apply it in your life.   Become a Master Storyteller Grab your free copy of The 5 Stages of Grief in Telling YOUR Business Story, check out: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/vn00zi042y Keynote Speaker | Brand Strategy & Workshops | Story Raconteur Park Howell is an international keynote speaker who teaches people and organizations across the world the applied science and bewitchery of story. He makes brand stories crystal clear through his proven Story Cycle system that works every single time that's helped companies grow as much as 400 percent.  International brands Park's worked with include Hilton, Coca-Cola, Beyer Pharmaceutical, Cummins Diesel, American Express, American Marketing Association, Arizona State University, United States Air Force and dozens more. Learn more about working with Park to get your brand story straight.

When it comes to sharing your story, there is nothing more important than creating an authentic connection. In order for the audience to live vicariously through the experiences and emotions of your story, it is critical for you to first humanize yourself and your cause. But when the focus shifts from connections to profit gain, we lose track of what made our brand story so powerful in the first place. People. The return on investment of a well-crafted brand narrative is endless, and to demonstrate, our guest will show us just how much much money, employee engagement and credibility a good story can earn you. Mark Schenk is the Managing Director of Anecdote, a company dedicated to helping companies effectively communicate their brand purpose through storytelling. Mark is an expert story brand marketer, helping companies from Coca-Cola to IBM. In this episode, Mark will teach us the basics of Anecdotes workshop process, the true cost of a boring story, and the return on investment of an organization’s powerful story. To hone your business’ brand and humanize your story, tune in for this special episode. Become a Master Storyteller Grab your free copy of The 5 Stages of Grief in Telling YOUR Business Story, check out: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/vn00zi042y Keynote Speaker | Brand Strategy & Workshops | Story Raconteur Park Howell is an international keynote speaker who teaches people and organizations across the world the applied science and bewitchery of story. He makes brand stories crystal clear through his proven Story Cycle system that works every single time that's helped companies grow as much as 400 percent.  International brands Park's worked with include Hilton, Coca-Cola, Beyer Pharmaceutical, Cummins Diesel, American Express, American Marketing Association, Arizona State University, United States Air Force and dozens more. Learn more about working with Park to get your brand story straight.  

I just read a 2013 study on U.S. media consumption that said we consume 33 gigabytes of information per person consumer per day. That was five years ago. Imagine the growth in media consumption now. As business storytellers, we have more online channels than ever to share our messages. But your brand stories drown in this cacophony of communication unless you make your content marketing stand out. It's not about being better than everyone else. It's about telling brand stories and business narratives that are uniquely your own. Authentic stories that illustrate how you are different. Because within your uniqueness you will find your market advantage. Author and long-time social media strategist Erik Deckers returns for an encore episode to teach you how to best optimize your online and interpersonal marketing. Author of No Bullshit and Branding Yourself, Erik’s books have helped brand marketers share their stories through any form of communication. Today we will learn about the Fichtean Curve and how you can use it to create a powerful story, the steps towards building your own brand, and the three steps towards creating compelling content and a robust community. Become a Master Storyteller Grab your free copy of The 5 Stages of Grief in Telling YOUR Business Story, check out: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/vn00zi042y Keynote Speaker | Brand Strategy & Workshops | Story Raconteur Park Howell is an international keynote speaker who teaches people and organizations across the world the applied science and bewitchery of story. He makes brand stories crystal clear through his proven Story Cycle system that works every single time that's helped companies grow as much as 400 percent.  International brands Park's worked with include Hilton, Coca-Cola, Beyer Pharmaceutical, Cummins Diesel, American Express, American Marketing Association, Arizona State University, United States Air Force and dozens more. Learn more about working with Park to get your brand story straight.  

Throughout the past 124 episodes, we have focused on helping you craft, communicate and find your story to the best of your ability. Telling your own authentic narrative is one of the most important skills in any aspect of your life. Creating your own story is critical, but what if it was possible to use your story to help others craft their own? What if your story was so compelling, it was able to inspire the people around you to reveal their true, vulnerable selves? You are absolutely able to change the people around you with your own story, and joining us is a young professional who inspired this change in colleges around the world. Charlotte Vitak is the creative mind behind the My Story Project. Started in San Diego during her freshman year of college, the My Story Project has been utilized and adapted by universities to not only create a platform for aspiring storytellers but also to build communities through shared experiences. Her business has also inspired the creation of other story-centered organizations, and she has helped host and speak at a number of events to help audiences build their own story. Her process focuses on the value of listening and empathizing, having the courage to tell your authentic story, and how patience is a powerful tool for letting your story unfold at your own pace. Join us today for a very special New Years episode, and have a fantastic 2018! Become a Master Storyteller Grab your free copy of The 5 Stages of Grief in Telling YOUR Business Story, check out: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/vn00zi042y Keynote Speaker | Brand Strategy & Workshops | Story Raconteur Park Howell is an international keynote speaker who teaches people and organizations across the world the applied science and bewitchery of story. He makes brand stories crystal clear through his proven Story Cycle system that works every single time that's helped companies grow as much as 400 percent.  International brands Park's worked with include Hilton, Coca-Cola, Beyer Pharmaceutical, Cummins Diesel, American Express, American Marketing Association, Arizona State University, United States Air Force and dozens more. Learn more about working with Park to get your brand story straight.