

Anecdotally Speaking
Shawn Callahan & Mark Schenk
Welcome to our podcast, Anecdotally Speaking. Each week we tell a business story, talk about why it works and discuss where you might tell it at work. Our aim is to help you build your story repertoire.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 16, 2021 • 29min
120 – How to love a maths problem
Problems are inevitable but solvable. Listen to hear how an English mathematician solved a 358-year-old maths problem.
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Aug 9, 2021 • 14min
119 – Don’t do your block buster
Going with your gut is likely to lead you down the wrong path. Listen to hear how ignoring the data led to Blockbuster’s demise.
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Aug 2, 2021 • 23min
118 – The grass is greener for the second mouse
Is there a place for parables in business storytelling? Listen to hear Shawn Callahan share two apocryphal stories that you could use in your workplace.
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Jul 26, 2021 • 37min
117 – How a story illuminates an insight
Gary Klein once said, “Insight is when you unexpectedly come to a better story.” Listen to hear Shawn and Mike Adams exchange and explain the value of insight stories.
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Jul 20, 2021 • 32min
116 – The client hero story in your sales example
It’s time to rethink the case study. Listen to hear how a success story can transform your sales process.
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Jul 12, 2021 • 28min
115 – Less support gives more liberation
When circumstances change, the vision that brought you success in the past must also change. Listen to hear how a bra manufacturer overcame the challenges of the bra-burning movement of the 1970s.
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Jul 5, 2021 • 23min
114 – Tails with the Raj of mice and men
Often an idea will need a reality check—can it be executed? Listen to hear how a senior leader at Microsoft discovered the impact of storytelling.
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Jun 28, 2021 • 20min
113 – Low vaulting horse raises the bar
Attitude has a significant impact on performance. Listen to hear how a Russian gymnast went from storming out of one Olympic event to winning gold in the next.
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Jun 21, 2021 • 30min
112 – FedEx helicopter story absolutely positively flies
If you give your employees guiding principles rather than rules, they will do amazing things. Listen to hear special guest Doug Keeley’s favourite business story of all time.
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Jun 14, 2021 • 18min
111 – Apple devours Blackberry pie slice
Don’t get too fixed in your thinking, be ready to shift or adapt. Listen to hear how one CEO, set in his ways, caused his company’s market share to plummet.
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