Business of Story

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.

How to Turn Your Stories of Loss Into an Empowering Legacy For those of us who have experienced a great loss or traumatic event, waking up the next day and continuing life might seem an impossible task. Trauma shakes us to our very core, and overcoming such an emotional impact on our psyche is a monumental challenge unlike any other. When there's a struggle for survival happening within our mind, how can we possibly prevail? The answer is to use our one true superpower. Utilizing our personal experience to create an authentic, emotionally powerful story. Storytelling is a tool that is valuable in almost every situation, and relieving the pain of trauma is no different. Our guest today will show us that tragedy and loss can be conquered by using stories. Sandra Miller Younger is the author of The Fire Outside My Window and founder of ComeBACK Solutions. A survivor of the 2003 Cedar Wildfire, Sandra's experience with loss and resilience has helped people around the world change from a victim into a victor. She created the ComeBACK Formula to provide practice and insight for disaster situations and help anyone develop their resiliency. Sandra will share with us today that resilience is a muscle to be strengthened, trauma is part of a hero's journey, and how both are critical towards overcoming our personal challenges and turning a loss into legacy. In This Episode, You Will Learn The five steps of Sandra's ComeBACK Formula and how you can use them in your life How to choose to be the victor over, rather than the victim of, a loss or tragedy And how our signature story is usually our comeback story Key Quotes "When I came out of this fire, I realized I was a storyteller that had come out of the worst struggle of my story." - Sandra Miller Younger "There's nothing like losing your possessions to remind yourself what's truly important." - Sandra Miller Younger "There was a choice, not what happened to us but what we made of it." - Sandra Miller Younger "We are genetically predisposed to be grateful. It recalibrates our mindset to be positive." - Sandra Miller Younger "The past can never come back, as much as we wish it would. You can choose to be the victim, or you can choose to be the hero." - Sandra Miller Younger "More than just a story came out of this experience, you built your life on this journey." - Park Howell "Patience is critical. The more we struggle in quicksand, the faster we sink." - Park Howell Mentioned In This Episode Sandra Younger Sandra Younger Facebook The Fire Outside My Window ComeBACK Solutions ComeBACK Formula Post-Traumatic Growth Five Minute Resilience Workout Matthew Winkler Show #24 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.

We all know that story brand marketing is more than just selling your product. It's about creating an unbreakable bond between your customers and yourself through an authentic, emotional appeal. But in our age of digital marketing, the transition from print publishing to online communications can be a struggle. Our guest today can teach you how to approach story branding through every possible channel, to engage your audience and drive powerful new stories. Cassie Roma joins us from New Zealand to bring her years of storytelling experience to you. Cassie is the GM of content marketing at New Zealand Media and Entertainment, where she works with her team to create incredible narratives that fit in any form of media. She's a renowned keynote speaker and social activist in LGBT groups in and around New Zealand. She's going to teach you how to romance your customers with storytelling, drive deep customer engagement, explain why she believes modern marketing is going through a renaissance, and how you can use this to rise to the top. 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.

Telling the right story can help you in every situation. Even if you're a novice who's transferred into a completely new field, the ability to create the right narrative will make you an invaluable asset to your team. Unfortunately, most people find themselves overwhelmed in a new work environment, terrified of their lack of experience. This episode will teach you that when you have confidence, authenticity, and a powerful story, you can overcome any obstacle. Joining us is a man who has worked in wildly different work throughout his career. Jim Ward, President and CEO of The Phoenix Symphony Association, knows firsthand the intimidation of joining an organization without a clear idea of what's needed. Here is the rehearsal with John Williams that I was fortunate enough to attend. It has been these kinds of innovative community events that have helped the Phoenix Symphony become one of the leaders in resurrecting Arizona's fine art scene. Jim has worked with influential business leaders, such as George Lucas, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Rolling Stones, and even Tiger Woods. He recently moved to Phoenix and began helping the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra regain their footing during financial difficulties. Each of these wildly different positions needed the same critical skill: storytelling. Today Jim will share his stories of uncertainty, understanding, open-mindedness, and confidence during his career, and teach you how to become the best storyteller you can be. 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.

How can you rise above your competition in an oversaturated market? We've all found ourselves in competition with similar brands. These competitors are often doing the exact same thing as us, and sometimes they do the service better! This is a situation that makes or breaks an organization, and there seems to be only one way to survive. Today you will learn how the right brand story separates you from the competition and leads your business to the top. Joining us is my friend Sean Schroeder of blueriver™. Sean came to us with a brand that was struggling to find its authentic story and market position. And although his team was skeptical, he wanted to try our Story Cycle system. In this episode, we will discuss the results of his hard work, and howblueriver™ and its Mura Digital Experience Platform found the flow of its brand story. They landed on a narrative that has always been true toblueriver™ focused on creating peak customer experiences. They are now designing their unique category in the crowded digital and interactive industry to help them rise above their noisy a commoditized world. 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.

Phil Jones, a global speaker with over 2,000 presentations, discusses the rebranding of sales from pushy to genuine guidance. He emphasizes the power of simple word changes to enhance persuasion and storytelling. The conversation also covers the importance of effective communication and authentic human connections in business. Listeners will learn how strategic language can transform sales outcomes and the role of storytelling in elevating brand value. It's a transformative look at how integrity can reshape the sales narrative.

Every business has its own set of values. Either for publicity purposes or genuine care, all organizations have principals that guide the direction of the brand's growth. But what if your values were in conflict with that growth? Would you be willing to set aside profit to keep in line with your personal story? Authentic story brand marketing demands a fearless commitment to your character, and today's guest will discuss how living up to your values is the key to success. Lee Einhorn has been creating advertising campaigns since he was 10 years old. Creative Director at Venables Bell & Partners, Lee has been able to exercise his creative branding skills to build innovative advertising movements, such as the anti-smoking Truth Campaign, which helped drop teen smoking by 23 percent! On this week's podcast, Lee is joining us to discuss his role in REI's #OptOutside movement, which closes their stores on Black Friday to encourage you to spend time with family in the great outdoors. Join us to learn how this simple story of a company's values created a movement that could change the industry for years to come. In This Episode, You Will Learn Creating your story from the heart Why values are more important than value Changing the world through an authentic story Key Quotes "Our job was to strike the match, fan the fires, and the customers would take it upon themselves and create the story." - Lee Einhorn "The whole idea was we wanted people to engage and make the story their own." - Lee Einhorn "We could have added a lot of ugly Black Friday footage, but we decided to keep it as positive as possible. This was a campaign that came from the heart, and had to reflect our story." - Lee Einhorn "We made it clear from the beginning that this wasn't a publicity stunt. This came from the heart of what we believed in." - Lee Einhorn "My big questions are, how does a brand like REI continue to make statements? How do they continue to be a brand of meaning?" - Lee Einhorn "The story wasn't about REI, it was about creating a space for their consumer base to move into action." - Park Howell "You were able to create a narrative that helped stir people into action and get them thinking about the issues. " - Park Howell 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.