Category: Upcoming Programs

Tell a better story. Become more interesting. Grow your business.

When: June 24rd · 12:45PM-1:45PM

Where: O’Maine Studio, Portland, Maine

Entrance Fee: $10 (please bring cash) includes a light lunch

A Maine Startup & Create Week Partner Program

Who should attend: Business owners, self-employed professionals, leaders and others who want to communicate the value of their ideas, service, and business in a more compelling, interesting, and persuasive way… whether in front of a group or one-to-one.

 

MSCWWould you like to grab an audience’s attention from the beginning and have them hungering to hear more about you and your business…all the while feeling more comfortable and confident speaking in front of a group than you imagined possible?

Tell good stories.

Would you like the media to find you fascinating and article-worthy?

Tell short, fascinating stories.

Want to make your ideas hit home at an emotional level, so rather than people thinking “Oh…that’s interesting” you leave them feeling moved?

Tell stories that impact viscerally, like a punch in the stomach.

Want your audience to never forget your message?

You got it…tell a great story, or better still, tell several.

There’s a reason why storytelling is hot in the business world. Experts in marketing, selling, branding, leadership, and presentation skills are all talking about and writing about the power of effective storytelling.

In this program, you will learn how to use stories about you, your business, your customers, and everyday life to:

 

  • Breathe life into your web copy
  • Captivate your audiences when you get the chance to speak
  • Make your marketing messages interesting and unique
  • Make your message unforgettable

In this interactive program, we will explore a few of the many story genres you can use to dial up the power and fascination factor in all of your communication.

Where: O’Maine Studio, Portland, Maine

Entrance Fee: $10 (please bring cash) includes a light lunch

 

Jun 16, 2015 | 2 comments View Post

Change Your Story; Change Your Life: a Brand New Workshop to Start the New Year Off Right

With David Lee

 

Sunday, January 12th – 12:30-3:30

Unity of Greater Portland  54 River Road  Windham, ME

 

Tree and benchIf you feel like there’s a swan inside who has been living the story of the Ugly Duckling, it’s time to change your story.

If you feel like you’ve been showing up too small in the world, it’s time to change your story.

If you believe deeply that you were meant to do something important in this world, but something has been holding you back…it’s time to change your story.

In this interactive workshop, we will explore:

  1. The “I’m an Ugly Duckling who needs to fit in” story you’ve been telling yourself that has held you hostage.
  2. How to tap into your “Inner Harry Potter”:  the magic that is uniquely yours and the work that is uniquely yours to do in this world.
  3. How you can write your “Swan Story” that not only honors your unique gifts, way of being in the world,  and path, but also sets in motion your ideal future.

 

 What is That “One Thing You Came to Earth to Do?”

I love–and at times am haunted by–these lines from Rumi:

 There is one thing in this world which you must never forget to do.

If you forget everything else and not this, there is nothing to worry about, but if you remember everything else and forget this, then you will have done nothing in your life.

It is as if a king has sent you to some country to do a task, and you perform a hundred other services, but not the one he sent you to do. So human beings come to this world to do particular work. That work is the purpose, and each is specific to the person.

Come explore with me “That One Thing”…

 

$20 Suggested Love Offering

You can pay at the door or pay online. If you pay prior to the program, you will get a free download of my CD Your Mythic Journey: Discover Your Unique Path, Gifts and Life Lessons (which sells for $19) which means you get to attend the workshop for only one dollar more than the cost of the CD.

If you want to pay by check, email me for the address to send: david(at) storiesthatchange.com


Name(s) of attendee(s)


About the Facilitator: David Lee is the founder of StoriesThatChange.com, WhateverLifeBrings.com, and the business consulting firm HumanNature@Work. He has been using and teaching storytelling as a transformational tool for over 20 years. He also brings to this workshop decades of involvement in a variety of personal growth practices, with a special interest in practices and principles for connecting more deeply with your soul’s journey on earth

For more information or to RSVP, email david (at) storiesthatchange.com

Dec 19, 2013 | 0 comments View Post

The difference making a presentation story-centric makes: Susan Mayginnes tells her story

susan mayginnesHopefully you’ve noticed that when I share a story on this blog, I share it both because the content of the story is useful or inspiring and…how it demonstrates the use of storytelling as a powerful communication vehicle.

This post comes to you courtesy of Susan Mayginnes of Commit to Greatness who I recently met at the Wisdom 2.0 conference in San Francisco. I was hosting a round table on storytelling and really enjoyed what Susan was sharing with the group and asked her if she would share a story with my audience. This short video describes her experience with taking a presentation she was preparing and switch it from “traditional Powerpoint bulleted list centric” to “story centric.”

Besides noticing the difference it made, what I really would like you to notice is how the simple act of wrapping her take away message–“telling stories is far more effective”–in a story  makes the message more interesting.

Susan  could simply state this message without a story and you would probably think “I know. I know…storytelling is a good thing…tell me something I don’t know.”

However, by presenting that message through a story, the message feels more fresh, interesting, and important.

Also, because Susan shares her own growth process in learning to use stories, she makes herself easier to bond to than if she came across as an all-knowing expert.

Rather than her coming across as an expert who knows the right way and is showing you the way, she shares her story as a fellow learner who wants the same thing as you…to make your presentations more interesting and for your audience to respond positively.

By sharing her “before and after pictures”, she also gives you a sneak preview of what you can have if you use storytelling.

This type of story is what I call a Promise Story. It communicates the benefit, the good things that the listener will get, by listening to and applying what you have to say.

Promise Stories are especially useful in the beginning of a presentation. They draw the audience in because the story speaks to what the audience desires and communicates that if they listen to you, they will learn how to get what they desire.

OK…before you watch the video, be ye forewarned that we shot it outside and you’ll hear some wind noise. Hopefully you will notice it for a moment and then focus on what Susan has to say…

 

 

So…how to apply this?

Think of key points you want to get across in your presentations and “wrap” them in a story.

Mar 04, 2013 | 0 comments View Post

August Webinar…

Brand New Webinar Builds on the One You Attended Previously

Here’s what’s on this page:

1. Description of the the webinar

2. What to do if you haven’t been getting my emails with all the resources you requested

3. A link to the page with the first batch of post-seminar resources

4. A link to the  1/3 off discount for the Storytelling for Leaders seminar with slides and workbook.–Order by Sept 15h for discount and bonuses (BTW…I decided to change the discount to 1/3 and add useful bonuses, rather than do the 50% off with no bonuses).

 

 

Storytelling- Part II

August 28th, 2PM-3PM EST

 

Two Areas Where Storytelling Shines Most Brightly–i.e. Adds HUGE Power to Your Ability to Catalyze Change

 

  1. How to challenge someone’s limiting beliefs, perspectives, or attitude w/o triggering defensiveness or resistance.

  2. How to shift someone from a disempowered “There’s no way I can do that!” state to an empowered “I CAN do this!” state where they are willing to try.

 These two areas are among the most powerful applications of storytelling and why you would use storytelling. Here are some common situations you would want to have these abilities:

1. Someone is not open to a new way of looking at their problem and any attempt to get them to do so only triggers “You don’t  understand” or other defensive or dismissive responses.

2. Someone just “knows” they’re right and your job is to help them see that…well, no…they aren’t right. But you know if you try to challenge them directly, they will only hunker down and clench onto their “rightness” even more tightly.

3. You have a pretty hard message to communicate to someone and you know that anyone who heard this “no holds barred” message would get defensive or maybe even offended. But…you need to get them to think about this. Here’s another place where telling a story can deliver the message “wrapped in bacon’ (like you do when you give dogs medicine that tastes bad).

4. You’re coaching someone about how to do something that is anxiety-producing for them–such as confront someone, speak at an event, or take more of a leadership position–and they don’t believe they can. Not only do they believe they can’t…they are stuck in an “unresourceful” emotional state. While in this afraid or hopeless state, there’s no way they’ll be able to generate useful solutions about how to best deal with their challenge. Thus, before you can even engage them in exploring options, you must help them shift from a “Can’t do” to a “Can do” emotional and mental state. This is another area where storytelling shines.

To register for this webinar, go to:

 

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/404447642

 

As with other webinars, if you can’t make it live, you can access the recording.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at: david@humannatureatwork.com  or better still…post them below.

2. If you haven’t been getting my emails:

 

The sender of these emails uses an email marketing service called Constant Contact. Constant Contact is not an open relay and has strict anti-spam policies in place. Because your filters block emails from Constant Contact I am unable to receive these communications.

I ask that you please help me determine why these emails are being blocked. For further information about Constant Contact or to request more information from them such as log files, the Operations team can be reached at 781.472.8103 or ops@constantcontact.com.

Mail from Constant Contact can be found with the following characteristics:
“Envelope from:” domains:

@in.constantcontact.com
@in.confirmedcc.com

3. If You Haven’t Gotten the Info on the Post Webinar Resources, They’re Right Here

 

4. Storytelling for Leaders – Order by Sept 15th for discount and majorly cool bonuses

Learn More About This Storytelling Resource…

 

 

Jul 28, 2012 | 0 comments View Post