Category Archives: storytelling

Stories, Facts and Synthesis

Posted on April 18, 2012 by

Break down any presentation and you’ve got three building blocks: stories, facts and synthesis. Since we’re generally not comfortable as storytellers, and since it feels safe to report on the facts, lots of presentations divide up the pie like this … Continue reading →

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The story-reality gap

Posted on April 12, 2011 by

Whether or not you consider yourself a marketer or a salesperson, one way or another you’re telling stories all the time.  It happened the moment you traded in your college rucksack for that nice Kenneth Cole leather briefcase; it happens … Continue reading →

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Hans Rosling does it again

Posted on December 4, 2010 by

I don’t know which makes me smile more, the amazing visualization of statistics to tell a complex story, or Hans Rosling’s contagious joy and energy. It’s a wonderful 4-minute video.  Enjoy.

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The 17 second story

Posted on January 12, 2010 by

Twice in the last two weeks I’ve had 30 minute calls with people who are exploring interesting new vehicles for raising capital in the nonprofit sector.  Yet in both cases, it took 17 minutes (I counted) to get to the … Continue reading →

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David Weprin and the other 19

Posted on September 11, 2009 by

The other day on my way to work I passed a campaign volunteer for David Weprin, candidate for NYC Comptroller.   During the time I was within her earshot, I probably heard her say “Weprin for NYC Comptroller!!” about 10 … Continue reading →

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Before iPod Genius, there was Shuffle…and it was good enough

Posted on August 18, 2009 by

One of the many clever iPod/iPhone features is “Genius,” which automatically creates a playlist of related songs based on a song that you pick. You pick a song by the Police and you’ll get a playlist with U2 and Sting … Continue reading →

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My iPhone story…finally

Posted on August 5, 2009 by

Change is hard, right?  Or maybe not.  So here’s the experiment.  I’ve been a heavy (obsessive?) Blackberry user for almost a decade.  And I’ve been fawning over the iPhone since it came out two years ago.  But I kept on … Continue reading →

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The last turn problem

Posted on June 15, 2009 by

Next time you’re driving somewhere new, notice how you process the directions you’ve been given.  If you’re like me, you’ll give your complete attention to the overall route and the first 9/10th of the drive, and then when the time … Continue reading →

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Your voice

Posted on June 3, 2009 by

Seth recently shared a great response to all the people who say they’re going to be the next Seth, rightly exhorting folks to get busy being their best selves instead. But how do you find your own voice? We all … Continue reading →

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Classical or jazz?

Posted on May 13, 2009 by

Is storytelling more like classical music or jazz?  Is there a grouping of notes and turns of phrase that you hone and deliver, or just a rough outline and a sense of where you’re going, with lots of improvisation along … Continue reading →

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