Stories Mean Business - Nick Warren

I've spent today trying to name the ’story field’ that sits between us and reality.

It's not gone well.

Which is a shame, because names matter.

Episode home:

https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/805:-Nailing-the-Name

You may feel that "boring" and "predictable" are negative sounding words, but when it comes to building a business (or a reputation) they can be very powerful.

In this case, they apply to my steady aggregation of content at StoriesMeanBusiness.com. Because I'm neither seduced or shackled by the "get rich quick" bollocks, I'm free to pursue a longer term vision of making the site a destination for storytellers.

Compounding content over time is one of the ways we show our commitment, signal our credibility and increase the value of our network as per Metcalf's Law.

And here's the thing. Anyone can do it.

It only takes two steps.

1. Start.

2. Don't stop.

Episode home:

https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/804:-Boringly-Predictable-Content-Compounding

Golf is not a game I'm any kind of expert at, but it is filled with lessons that apply to business. Here's 2 or 3 I was reminded of yesterday.

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This week I've bought some stuff I didn't need or want.

Why was that?

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Last week I was in a meeting where the phrase content-heavy was repeated two or three times. I admit it, I bristled ... because I'd written the content.

But also ... and this is worse, it feels a little like my new career is paying for the sins of the old.

Episode home:

https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/801-Content-Heavy-Irony

Most weeks I get emails from publicists saying something like ..."I really love your podcast, and I have the perfect guest for you."

In the old days, when I was young and naive, I used to answer them ... but not I send them to trash and smile as I do it.

My podcast has no guests.

And yet, in 200 days time, for episode 1,000, I'll be breaking my own rule and interviewing a Total Bloody Rockstar (in my world).

Listen below to hear how it happened.

Episode home:

https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/800:-And-For-My-Next-Guest

Yesterday, I set one of my clients some homework.

He has me on a retainer, which gives me the opportunity (and the obligation) to challenge him and his thinking.

And do you know what ... he wants to be pushed. The best clients always do.

The alternative – alas – is the client who hires a copywriter but rewrites the work, or engages a design firm but disregards their insight.

Which audience we focus on is a choice that we make everyday.

We can serve one or the other, but rarely both.

Episode home:

https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/799:-The-Best-Clients-LOVE-Homework

Yesterday, after a 10 year absence, I took a few golf clubs to the driving range. It was carnage ... but it gives me a chance to talk about learning and reinforcement schedules in today's podcast.

Episode home:

https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/798:-Behaviourist-Golf

In a few days time, I'll be playing my first round of golf in a decade.

That means getting the clubs out of storage, cleaning them up, and trying to remember which end to hold them.

I'm headed to the driving range to see how bad things have gotten, but I'm reminded that golf is a great game, but a terrible metaphor for success.

We all dream of the big swing, but for all but the most talented, smaller steps are the road to success.

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In The Overstory by Richard Powers, tree tower over the narrative in every sense. I'm just back from my holiday, and I've been savoring this remarkable novel.

The story is based, in part, on the extraordinary work of Prof. Suzanne Simard, who demonstrated that trees communicate with each other and share resources.

I say this because, up until July this year, I had the idea that trees compete for scarce resources... but they don't.

They share and support and look after each other ... which is a much better metaphor for the kind of businesses I'm interested in building.

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