1 ) The "start with why" mantra will actually hold you back when it comes to LI. I know too many people that spend forever trying to figure out their "why." This is a time suck, and your why doesn't even matter when you first start out, so just freakin' post. I started creating a lot of content...
I wanted to appear smart.
So, I wrote like I was writing to my professors. All academic.
My boss at the time told me, “Do you want to sound smart, or do you want to make sense?"
Great storytellers value clarity above complexity.
If you were to take Ernest Hemingway’s...
...said no one ever.
.
.
We know how important networking is to our success. So, why don't we focus on it more? Seriously, we know there are people out there who can help us achieve our goals, dreams, and desires, so why don't we make a strategic, intentional effort to connect with them?
Wanna...
Ever witnessed a "leader" bombing their staff meeting? It's like watching a train wreck!
Don't be the office clown! Dive into the Stories With Traction podcast and ace your storytelling game.
Master those presentations, and you'll be the office Einstein!
Give it a listen ...
EPISODES MENTIONED IN INTRO:
The Story of Westcliff
Leader of Leaders
SHOW NOTES:
SUMMARY: In this episode, Dr. Anthony Lee and Matt Zaun talk about Westcliff’s core values and the future of education regarding AI technology.
DR. ANTHONY LEE BIO: Dr. Lee is the President and CEO of Westcliff...
Jan 5th - How to be a Great Storyteller with Claire M. Davis
Jan 12th - Intentional Storytelling with Terence Farrell
Jan 19th - Flip the Script with Lyndsay Dowd
Jan 26th - The Story of Westcliff with Dr. Anthony Lee
Feb 2nd - Storytelling FAQ Episode 1...
...many in the business community thought Mr. Kroc was an idiot.
Why on earth was he so interested in buying a burger joint (for that amount of money)?!
Ray Kroc saw something that most didn’t at the time: the long-term value of McDonald’s.
Today, the company is worth 191...
They invest in workshops, books, and courses and will do everything possible to improve themselves.
Through this development, they will work on their storytelling ability and emotional intelligence and master their management style.
They want to learn how to be better listeners, techniques for...
Even still, there are some great people working in organizations like this, and they’re itching to make a difference.
The key to unlocking enthusiasm in a stale company is connecting through storytelling.
When we share stories, we are building trust with those around us and...
...Jacques Prévert happened to meet a blind beggar in the street.
Jacques asked him how things were going.
Bad, the beggar replied – he hadn’t heard a single coin land in his hat all day.
Jacques, a poor writer, didn’t have cash to spare, but he offered to...
SHOW NOTES:
SUMMARY: In this episode, Chris Stokes and Matt Zaun discuss Intelassist and the future of work in the United States.
CHRIS STOKES BIO: Chris Stokes is the VP of Client Success and Partner at Intelassist, a remote staffing company based in Manila, Philippines.
For more info, check out...
…and that’s been my secret weapon for years.
One of my incredible mentors, who has fundamentally changed my life, is Rob Chenoweth.
Today is his birthday!
Happy Birthday to one of the wisest men I've ever met.
It was fun hanging out in NYC last year.
Wanna crush your goals? It...
SHOW NOTES:
SUMMARY: In this episode, Orly Zeewy and Matt Zaun talk about ideal clients, an empathy map, and process vs. outcome stories.
ORLY ZEEWY BIO: Orly is the Founder of Zeewy Brands, where she helps make the fuzzy clear and shows people how to cut through the noise.
For more info on...
She was concerned about her speech impediment.
What she didn't realize is sometimes our greatest “weaknesses” can actually be our greatest strengths.
Because of her condition, she was forced to focus on every interaction she had with people, and this practice paid off in huge...
To successfully market yourself or (your company), you need...
To have a unique point of view.
And to tell the world about it.
Over and over and over again.
- remix your ideas
- reuse your content
- repeat your core message
It's not complicated.
But you have to get comfortable repeating yourself.
As...
๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ป ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ...
1. ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐๐ป๐ด๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ช๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ didn’t publish her first novel until she was 65 years old. She wrote an additional 12 novels after that. A successful television series was built around her books.
2. ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ด๐ฒ๐ created the first thesaurus...
Valid thought.
He’s such a systems, structure, and statistics person; he can come off as a bit of a nerd.
Regardless, to tell the right stories, you need to understand your targets.
I learned the most effective LinkedIn framework for doing this through Dan Mott.
This...
They blow an opportunity to have a microphone in front of millions of viewers.
Instead of inspiring people, instead of recognizing others who have helped them, they stammer.
...
No joke.
Stalin thought Wayne’s brand was too powerful and was influencing too many Americans that he wanted him dead.
People often wonder how powerful a brand can be—case in point.
Tomorrow is the Oscars. It was cool seeing John Wayne’s Academy Award up close.
Who are you...
SHOW NOTES:
SUMMARY: In this episode, Barbara Zerfoss and Matt Zaun discuss creativity and how someone can position themselves to have a surge of ideas.
BARBARA ZERFOSS BIO: Barbara was a former Marketing Vice President for a multi-billion dollar global corporation. Today, she is a Vistage Chair...
...wife, daughter, mother, and sister!
I've learned so much from each one of you, and I'm blessed to have you in my life.
Why?
Because you achieved all of your 2024 business goals, and it’s worth people hearing about!
As you sit with the reporter, you’re not bound by today's constraints; you’re basking in the glow of your future accomplishments.
The reporter asks you all you’ve...
We all will, actually. Life is quick.
This is the first thing my kids are to do once I'm gone…
…whether I pass away in 5 years or 50.
They are supposed to listen to my podcast, Stories With Traction.
The content is built for leaders, and they are being raised to lead....
My response was, “I’m vanilla ice cream.”
“Huh?”
“Vanilla ice cream goes with peach cobbler or chocolate drizzle. I'm an extrovert when I need to be an extrovert, and I’m an introvert when I need to be an introvert.
I'm an ambivert.
I'm vanilla...