It’s not always appropriate to tell a story. Different stories work in different situations and sometimes, you shouldn’t tell a story at all. If the story doesn’t fit, you must omit. For your free no obligation 20-minute coaching call, contact [email protected] www.storytellling-in-business.com  

In this episode, Doug coaches Dave on the Phrase That Pays for one of his stories. Dave shares how he uses stories in his training courses and how The Story Theater Method has helped him to be more deliberate with his stories. He also says that the stories that he tells improve the bottom- line revenues for his company. There is a strong emphasis on The Phrase That Pays in this episode. Learn more about the Phrase That Pays and how to make the point of your story stick in Episode 5. What’s...

TED talks opened the door to short speeches, and now, 20-minute speeches are here to stay. Conference planners are scheduling more speakers with shorter time slots. In my experience, designing a short speech is more challenging than crafting a long one. What stays in? What do you cut? I’ve got you covered. Follow these ten steps and you’ll look like a pro. To get 30% off on the downloadable version of the Dynamite Speech System, go to ...

Dr. Alyx Porter Umphrey is the first black female Neuro Oncologist in the United States. Her personal story of success in the face of adversity is a story that inspires others to donate to Elevate Med, a non-profit dedicated to supporting black and brown medical students with scholarships, mentoring and leadership training. In this episode you’ll learn how your story, and the story of those who benefit from your cause, can be the most powerful element of your fundraising strategy. When you...

As a speaker and storyteller, getting a laugh is pretty important. It's not enough to get lucky with an ad-lib, you need to know how to get a laugh on demand. That requires an understanding of the dynamics of comedy. In this episode, you'll discover the three elements that are necessary to get predicatable laughs.  After listening to this episode, go to You Tube and search for the videos listed below. Study them. They are a master class in comedy. Bill Cosby – Noah’s Ark ...

While there is no one right answer to this question, there are guidlines that will help you decide how long your story should be. Consider the situation, the time alloted for your presentation and adjust accordingly.  Doug Stevenson is a keynote and story coach basedin Tucson, Arizona. Contact: [email protected]

Your storytelling superpowers are all the things that make you different from everyone else. They are your heart and soul and emotion, your quirky sense of humor and sparkling personality. Your superpowers come across in the way you present yourself as much as what you present. They are the most intimate and outrageous parts of you that you are willing to reveal to an audience. Add to those superpowers your stories and content and you have something powerful to offer. And yet, standing up...

Sometimes is takes more than simply telling a story. Sometimes the story requires Radical Honesty to convey the truth being shared. Listen as Conrad Woody shared his story of rising from shyness and insecurity to becoming a managing partner and top talent advisor and C-Suite and Board Leadership Strategist. His journey to self-empowerment and finding his purpose as a black man rising to the top in corporate America is inspiring and radically honest. contact: [email protected]

Pete Hinojosa was tasked with developing a leadership development curriculum and helping Insperity expand from 40 to 100 offices. No small task. In order to achieve these impressive results, Insperity now has 98 offices, he had to hit the road and present his vision to stakeholders who had the power to say yes or no. Pete uses personal stories in his keynotes, trainings and business presentations to make an emotional connection and to drive corporate change. In this episode, you’ll hear how...

Pete Hinojosa was tasked with developing a leadership development curriculum and helping Insperity expand from 40 to 100 offices. No small task. In order to achieve these impressive results, Insperity now has 98 offices, he had to hit the road and present his vision to stakeholders who had the power to say yes or no. Pete uses personal stories in his keynotes, trainings and business presentations to make an emotional connection and to drive corporate change. In this episode, you’ll hear how...

Thayer Willis grew up rich. She was born into a wealthy family and became, in her own words, an entitled brat. Her story is one of self-revelation and transformation. When she hit rock bottom, she knew she needed to do something to turn things around. In this episode you’ll hear how she summoned the courage to confront her pain and find her way to a meaningful life. Her origin story became the catalyst for a successful speaking and consulting business. Here’s a preview of what you’ll learn...

Geeks, nerds and engineers spend much of their time sitting in front of a computer working on technical projects that most people around them need but don’t understand. The challenge for many engineers is to communicate their ideas, products and processes to non-engineers. Learn how a self-described geeky nerd and her team learned how to use storytelling to close more sales and make technical training presentations more engaging. Here’s a preview of what you’ll learn in this episode… How...

Is there an actor hiding out inside you waiting to be cast in the role of a lifetime? In this episode, you’ll learn how to release your inner actor and use some simple acting techniques to make your story memorable, marketable and compelling. Your story is the play and you’re the leading actor or actress. It’s show time. Curtain up! Here’s a preview of what you’ll learn in this episode… How to portray the emotions of your story with reactions and inner monologue. How to use tempo, volume,...

Good leadership is easy to spot. You know it when you see and experience it. It’s the same with bad or toxic leadership. You’ve probably worked for both kinds of leader. I’ve worked for both and I’ve also had the opportunity to speak at conference where I’ve interacted with CEOs and presidents, VPs and sales managers. That’s where I have been able to find my leadership stories. Listen and learn as I share four stories that illustrate good and bad leadership. And then, get to work crafting...

If you want your story to stick, to be memorable, to engage people’s full attention, you’ve got to say or do something that surprises people. You’ve got to catch them off guard, to create intrigue. In other words, confuse them or lose them. I know that sounds counterintuitive, to confuse them or lose them. But how many times has someone bored you to death by giving a well thought out but completely predictable presentation. Be unpredictable. Tell a story that makes them think, feel and...

The foundation of every story is a journey, a quest, an adventure. It’s the action or activity of your story. It can be something big and dangerous or mundane and ordinary. With craft and development leading to a powerful lesson or point, your journey can illuminate my journey. When you take me along with you on your journey by telling me your story, I find the meaning I need to navigate my journey. In this episode you’ll identify a number of possible journeys from your life. I’ll also share...

Learn how to apply the Aikido Selling approach to telling stories in a sales conversation. Build trust and create rapport by sharing targeted customer success stories that redirect the conversation and create story surrogates. Here’s a preview of what you’ll learn in this episode… How to grab the attention of a distracted client and gain their trust How to identify the right customer story to tell How to blend imagery, emotion, and data into a sales story How to close the sale with a...

Emotion is the Fast Lane to the Brain How do you use emotion artfully and gracefully? It’s tricky. You don’t want to be manipulative and gratuitous, but at the same time you want to make an emotional connection with your listener, client, or audience member. Without emotion, your presentation will be like a black and white movie. With emotion, it will be in Imax, 3D, high-definition color. As an actor, I learned to harness the power of emotion in my performances. I knew where and when to...

A good story is interesting. People enjoy hearing it. But nothing happens as a result. Nothing changes. A great story on the other hand, moves the needle. It causes people to change the way they think and behave. A great story overcomes objections leading to more sales. It inspires confidence in leadership. It empowers people to make smarter decisions. Great stories told by masterful storytellers not only get you noticed, but they also pay the bills. A great story, like a great product, is...

Do you want scientific proof that explains why stories stick? In this episode, we’re going to explore the brain science research that’s been conducted over the years, that describes why stories are more effective at influencing people and persuading them to come over to your point of view, versus simply providing a logical explanation backed up with facts and data.   In his book, Brain Rules, molecular biologist John Medina writes, “When the brain detects an emotionally charged event, the...

Change is an issue that affects all of us. For many people, it’s is something to be avoided. Change is disruptive, annoying and often mentally and emotionally painful. And yet, our change stories can help people see change in a different light. We can help people move past their fear and anxiety about change and into a more neutral place where they can see themselves making the changes necessary to move forward. In this episode you’ll hear two change stories and how they were effective at...

What is an Origin Story and how do you develop yours? It depends on who you’re going to tell it to and for what purpose. Is it your personal origin story or your company’s origin story? Are you selling yourself, your idea, or your organization? In this episode Doug shares a simple three step formula for developing your origin story. He’ll share the origin story of how Google became Google and the origin story of how The Story Theater Method originated. Contact: [email protected]

Engineers like systems and procedures. Maybe that’s why my guest in this episode, Elise Foster, an engineer by training and now a keynote speaker, executive coach and leadership consultant, appreciated how The Story Theater Method could help her engineer her stories. Elise Foster got her start in the speaking business when she was asked by Liz Wiseman, the author of the best-selling book, Multipliers – How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter, to co-author a book with her. That book, The...

Doug tells his Million Dollar Story – a funny Imbroglio story that was the genesis for The Story Theater Method and a 25-year speaking career. An Imbroglio is an acutely embarrassing or painful situation. It’s a comedy of errors. Listen, learn and be inspired to find your Million Dollar Story that sticks.