Telling Personal Stories to Improve Lives and Leadership.

1. Loneliness and
Love Stories:
The Business Case for Telling
Personal Stories

2. Great leaders
tell personal stories
 Session Deliverables
“2012 is the year of the
story… 3M is one that is  Discover why business leaders are
looking for a new story.
using storytelling best…”
Fast Company  Find out how companies like Pfizer,
American Girl Doll, and Tiffany & Co.
are using stories to drive revenue.
 Learn the three types of stories and how
to create a business story using a story
format.

3. Big Ed
and the Body Brace
 Storytelling comes natural to all of us – we
all have our gifts and style.
 Stories activate the mind in ways that make
listeners fell like they are having a visual,
tactile and kinetic experience
 What makes one stand on its two feet, sway
its hips, and move the conversation forward
in the manner that the storyteller desires?

4. Why business leaders
are looking for a new story
 Moving to a conceptual age.
 Creativity increases ROI.
 Increase in loneliness.
 Desire for stewardship, intimacy, and
meaning to make the world a better
place.

5. Two More –
Stories Increase ROI
 Pfizer – using personal stories to
increase sales.
 American Girl – personal stories
behind the dolls.
 Tiffany & Co. – “What makes
True Love” organic personal
story campaign.

6. Romeo and
Juliet story formula
 We all have our own storytelling gifts and
style.
 Improve your business conversations by:
 Thinking in compelling stories.
 Creating a compelling story.
 Telling a compelling story.
“What people really want from
their business conversations is a
juicy love story.”
Peter Drucker

7. Think in love stories:
First find the story truth
 Analysis: The heart of every great story is
vulnerability. Why Romeo and Juliet
resonates as the greatest love story of all
time.
 Story Truth: What is the meaning or truth of
the story? This is what creates the emotional
connection and ignites a greater purpose.

8. Next:
Choose story type

9. Start with a story glimmer
 “Jobs and Wozniak toiling in garage”
 A snap shot or a glimpse
 Incomplete story, just the start of a good
story
 Most people have and use story glimmer’s
everyday

10. Create your
business love story
 Story Setup:
 Current realities/who, what, where of the
story.
 Hero/Villain:
 Hero is you, your services or products.
Villain is the person or thing you fight
against.

11. Create your
business love story
 Struggle:
 Climax of your story.
 Story Finale:
 Ending ignites to action around a new
reality.

12. Create your
business love story
 Struggle:
 Climax of your story.
 Story Finale:
 Ending ignites to action around a new
reality.

13. Tell your story
in three easy love acts
 Invite: Propose Story. Think of this act as an
offering and a gift to the listener.
 Unite: Bond Together. This act is what you say
and do so the listener bonds to you and the
story truth.
 Ignite: Marry in Action. This act is how the
listener is compelled by the story to act in a
new and different way.

14. Some words for
Inviting, Uniting and Igniting
 Invite – Offer
 “Let me tell you a story.” “Last week…”
“That reminds me…” “Did I ever tell you
about…”
 Unite – Bond
 A repeated phrase that unites you with the
Guy. “Romeo! Romeo! Where for art
thou?”
 Ignite – Act
 Use words that include what we can see,
taste, touch, hear, and smell. These types
of words compel listener to action.

15. Story checklist for improving conversations
 Pick the type of  Start with a Story  Think in Love
story to tell. Glimmer. Stories and find the
Story Truth.
 Create using  Tell the Love Story
the Romeo in 3 Love Acts.
and Juliet Story
Vine.

16. The heart of every
great story is vulnerability
 Use Romeo and Juliet story formula to:
 Think in stories to improve your
conversations.
 Create your own stories.
 Tell your stories to invite, unite, and ignite
your clients, customers, coworkers to
create a new reality.
Thank you, Michelle