Stories Mean Business - Nick Warren

We've just finished watching season 2 of Ted Lasso, and loved it.

The whole show – from the basic premise to the interplay of characters – is a study in contrasts.

You can see it in the basic premise – American Football Coach vs. British Soccer. You can see it in the tone, American Enthusiasm vs. British Cynicism. You can see it in the dialogue ... schmaltz vs. swearing (often in front of kids).

The contrast creates tension, conflict and drama ... not to mention huge amounts of laughter.

But the most important lesson, for us, is that it also creates depth.

When we are telling a story about our business, we aren't just telling one ... we're creating depth, a mythology in the service of a wider narrative.

And as with mythology, each story can show a side of our business and our character. Different stories will connect with different people.

This is the arena where you get to beat big business ... where you show depth and personality in a way that is so hard for them.

Use it.

Episode home:

https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/765:-Ted-Lasso---Season-2

It's a pretty simple idea ... if you can't draw your business on a single sheet of paper, you don't understand it.

Episode home:

There are two ways to sell stuff.

First, sell harder. Make your signs or buttons bigger. Make them flash. Do discounts. Do time limited promotions and tripwires. Make people more afraid, or more angry.

You know the drill.

Or, you can create an environment where the right people want to buy.

Episode home:

https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/763-Selling-By-Not-Selling

Note: I'm NOT a doctor. Do not take mental health advice from storytellers!

Yesterday, I was feeling blue and inneffective and the Stoic thinking WASN'T WORKING.

So, I fell back to my second strategy, taking action.

This episode of the podcast is about the difference between interpretation and action, when we need to tell ourselves a better story.

Episode home: https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/762:-Interpretation-Versus-Action

The strategic model that underpins Amazon's growth contains just 11 words.

Episode home:

What if we didn’t start with the product or service we are selling?

Episode home:

https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/759:-Working-Backwards

At the Be World Class Leadership Conference, Simon Hartley told three quick stories to illustrate creative, entrepreneurial thinking.

I love this type of thing, because it opens a window in our mind.

Hear them in the podcast.

Episode home:

https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/758:-Thinking-Around-Corners

Yesterday, I got a fantastically honest voicemail from a client. She was feeding back on a first draft I'd done for her.

It's not just "wrong" she said, "it's REALLY WRONG".

Then, at the end of the call, came the line that mattered.

"This is why I love working with you, Nick. I know I can be honest."

Three reasons this matters:

This is how we build trust and long-term relationships. By showing up, learning from feedback, and getting closer to the target.

This is how we build our ethos and benefit from feedback.

Episode home:

https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/756:-Terrible-Brilliant-Feedback