Finland has a National Day of Failure. Yes, seriously…and as a country we often compare ourselves to, is it an idea we should embrace? For the past 10 years, October 13 is celebrated for failure, because (not unlike New Zealand?), screwing up is frowned upon by Finnish society. It was started by university students who … Continue reading Should we have a National Day of Failure?
Category Archives: one central truth
The great temptation is to add more to our business narrative. We’re afraid that if we don’t mention every last little additional detail, we’ll fail to attract the last little potential customer. That’s like adding bling to an elegant suit – detracting and self-defeating Simple is better because extra is superfluous. This is because a … Continue reading Simple stories are simply better business
Exactly how business changes and morphs as we come out of Covid lockdown is a very murky crystal ball. There is no playbook for the situation the world’s in, and we don’t know the ending…for individuals, for communities and for companies. One aspect which will evolve are the stories businesses tell of themselves and to … Continue reading Coronavirus will force a reset of our business stories (as well as everything else)
It’s somewhat ironic and apt that Victoria/Wellington University’s name debate is now a political argument. Ronald Reagan can perhaps lay claim to the phrase ‘explaining is losing’ – and that is exactly what happens when you use the term Victoria University. (Reagan’s contention was that messaging needs to be as simple as possible, with as … Continue reading Explaining is losing – let’s kill the name Victoria University
As an individual, we are all many stories. From our sex to upbringing, religious and political affiliations, likes, food preferences…you name it, depending on your start point we can tell different yarns. Our businesses too are many stories. You could focus on many different aspects of what and how you provide a product or service. … Continue reading Why you can only tell one story (initially)
It would be interesting to know how long it took DHL to come up with its slogan/tagline (first, most important story). You can see it on their distinctive yellow courier vans – Excellence. Simply delivered. According to DHL’s website, this its actually its mission; its vision being to be the Logistics Company for the World. … Continue reading Three words – well chosen. Period
To know what your business really really is, and express it in a form that resonates with all is rightly a holy grail. Understand and use your business essence, expressed as words, and you: Have the basis of your first, most important story…and all other stories Have an internal company rallying call Have soul However … Continue reading Your essence – the gem at the heart of your business
The backbone of any business, and its story, is its metaphor. It’s the picturable image, the mindful impression of your what and why. Subway espouses fresh when it comes to fast foods. Wellington used to promote positive. Coke’s bought its way to the idea of opening happiness. You ‘see’ something when you hear their (very … Continue reading Why business survival depends on your Gateway Metaphor
If your story is on point, it effectively is also your strategy. That’s because clarity of both story and strategy is mutually reinforcing, and essentially the same thing. Australian Irishwoman Bernadette Jiwa runs a highly successful business and blog called ‘The Story of Telling’ (don’t I wish I’d thought of such a clever reversing of … Continue reading Ten benefits of strategy as story
There’s an old saying that if you don’t tell your own story, somebody else will. Which means if we want to have a say in how someone else relates our brand or company, then it is in our major self-interest to deliberately craft that story. Such an intent starts with your first story – a … Continue reading If you don’t tell your own story…somebody else will