Who is Telling Your Story?

Seth Godin’s recent blog was quite interesting. While long, well worth the read. Titled “Understanding Substitutes“, he goes into great length about choices we all make. What I have really heard here is that you need to be sure to tell your story. And, FYI: no story is a story. It is you saying you don’t feel that your story is worth telling…and hearing.

Important info not just for marketing your new widget, software, or ???, but also about your “personal brand.” Recently I was talking to a friend who works in HR. She and I were discussing the best ways to interview. You see, with fundraising, I am always at an interview. I have found that interview techniques are really helpful when fundraising.

Her advice was to tell a story. Keep it short, fun, and to the point. This is not the time for you to ramble on starting with, “I was born in a little town just outside Jackpot, NV…” No, keep the story short, sweet and to the point.

When we tell our story, it is what will be remembered. Stop, think, how many iPhones has Apple sold? You likely don’t know. However, how many stories about Apple, and Steve Jobs, do you know? Likely a few. Watch a commercial, what are they telling you? It is not usually a bunch of stats and figures. It is a story. They are telling you their story.

Politicians do this to get elected. How many times have you heard about one party or candidate wanting to make sure they tell the story and not let “the other side” tell it for them? When a big piece of legislation needs to be passed, both sides (for and against) want to be sure to get their story out and not let “the other side” tell it for them.

The message here is to make sure that you know your story. Craft it. Make it what you want to tell. What are you going to tell, and what are you going to not tell. Interviews, fundraising, marketing, raising capital, whatever: Make sure you tell your story. If you don’t tell it, someone will either tell it for you, or guess at what it is based on what they do know.

Your story, for the record, is not just your words. It’s your cloths, your social media, your hair, your make-up, your choice of words, your gestures, your facial expressions; it’s the whole package.

Part of telling your story is to make sure it is consistent. Recently, I had someone come in to interview with me and the story she told, and the person standing before me didn’t really match. Seeing her speak confidently, and present a very strong personality while she stood there hunched over and closed off in her stance was a bit odd. She told a good story with her words, and phrasing, but her body language undermined her story.

I hear people talking about practicing your elevator speech all the time. “Make sure you have it right.” I would give the same thoughts about your story. Especially, if it isn’t your personal story, but rather the story of the company you work for.

Each of us tell many stories. We have many stories, and we bounce back and forth between our different personas: personal, father, work, husband, etc. Know which story you are telling. Make it a good one. Keep it short, sweet, and engaging. Make sure you master your story so you can tell it, rather than someone guessing.