Read on Twitter
Business school rewards the same set of hard skills.
Financial modeling. Operations. Excel.
In the real world, none of these are the most important skill.
And that skill is Storytelling.
Here's why...
Financial modeling. Operations. Excel.
In the real world, none of these are the most important skill.
And that skill is Storytelling.
Here's why...
We live in a digital age.
Technology is eating everything.
Skills are more commoditized than ever before.
And business is more competitive than ever before.
Storytelling is not & will not be commoditized.
Technology is eating everything.
Skills are more commoditized than ever before.
And business is more competitive than ever before.
Storytelling is not & will not be commoditized.
I experienced this first-hand at @MorningBrew.
We were unproven entrepreneurs.
We weren’t making money.
We were building in a competitive space.
And we had zero brand legitimacy.
Quality storytelling is what gave us legitimacy.
We were unproven entrepreneurs.
We weren’t making money.
We were building in a competitive space.
And we had zero brand legitimacy.
Quality storytelling is what gave us legitimacy.
When we raised $, we told the story of why we'd be our generation's WSJ.
When we hired employee #1, we told the story of why joining a no-name startup was a good idea.
When we secured our first big advertiser, we told the story of why handing us $100,000 was worth it.
When we hired employee #1, we told the story of why joining a no-name startup was a good idea.
When we secured our first big advertiser, we told the story of why handing us $100,000 was worth it.
Great storytelling is the crystal key to make things happen for yourself as a builder.
And to be a strong storyteller, keep FOUR things in mind:
1) Audience
2) Repetition
3) Nervous Equilibrium
4) Specificity
And to be a strong storyteller, keep FOUR things in mind:
1) Audience
2) Repetition
3) Nervous Equilibrium
4) Specificity
FIRST, audience.
Think about your audience the same way a business thinks about a potential customer.
You are solving a problem for someone.
Your goal is to take them from inaction to action.
Great storytelling helps them understand why action is in their best interest.
Think about your audience the same way a business thinks about a potential customer.
You are solving a problem for someone.
Your goal is to take them from inaction to action.
Great storytelling helps them understand why action is in their best interest.
Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, operates based on incentives.
Catering your story to your audience is about understanding:
• who they are
• how they like to be spoken to
• what incentives drive them
Catering your story to your audience is about understanding:
• who they are
• how they like to be spoken to
• what incentives drive them
SECOND, repetition.
People have fragmented attention.
Even when they’re focused, they don’t catch everything.
Give people more than one opportunity to latch onto your most important points.
My rule of thumb is at least 5.
People have fragmented attention.
Even when they’re focused, they don’t catch everything.
Give people more than one opportunity to latch onto your most important points.
My rule of thumb is at least 5.
Third, nervous equilibrium.
It is the amount of nerves that allows you to hit peak storytelling performance.
It is different for everyone.
It is the amount of nerves that allows you to hit peak storytelling performance.
It is different for everyone.
Not nervous enough?
You risk lacking appreciation for the gravity of the moment.
You may underprepare.
You may speak colloquially with filler words.
You may not read the room for audience engagement & body language.
You risk lacking appreciation for the gravity of the moment.
You may underprepare.
You may speak colloquially with filler words.
You may not read the room for audience engagement & body language.
To nervous?
You’ll possibly forget what to say.
You may speak fast & loud.
You may rock back-and-forth or develop other physical distractions.
You’ll possibly forget what to say.
You may speak fast & loud.
You may rock back-and-forth or develop other physical distractions.
2 ways to achieve nervous equilibrium:
1) Preparation
Bulleted notes, simulate your exact environment, anticipate audience questions.
2) Perspective
It is an incredible privilege to have a captive audience & even if you bomb it, it's an amazing learning experience.
1) Preparation
Bulleted notes, simulate your exact environment, anticipate audience questions.
2) Perspective
It is an incredible privilege to have a captive audience & even if you bomb it, it's an amazing learning experience.
FOURTH and final, specificity.
Use specific examples or stories to provide surface area for the audience to grab onto.
Think about your speech as a white canvas.
Your goal is to have your audience paint exactly what's in your head.
To do this, speak with specificity.
Use specific examples or stories to provide surface area for the audience to grab onto.
Think about your speech as a white canvas.
Your goal is to have your audience paint exactly what's in your head.
To do this, speak with specificity.
That is high-powered storytelling for you.
1) Understand your audience
2) Repeat, repeat, repeat
3) Achieve nervousness equilibrium
4) Speak with specificity
1) Understand your audience
2) Repeat, repeat, repeat
3) Achieve nervousness equilibrium
4) Speak with specificity
Thanks for reading!
If you want my complete thoughts on mastering storytelling, listen to my recent @FoundersPod episode:
On Apple: https://apple.co/3eB5zRV
On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/32QkK44
If you want my complete thoughts on mastering storytelling, listen to my recent @FoundersPod episode:
On Apple: https://apple.co/3eB5zRV
On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/32QkK44
And if you want more threads on accelerating your skills as a business builder, follow me on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/businessbarista
https://twitter.com/businessbarista
