168. How Story Can Change Everything in Your Career

Make your message memorable.


“Immediately forgettable” — that’s how Matthew Dicks (https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/m...) describes most of the business communication that he encounters. If you want to be remembered, he says, it’s time to tell stories.


A veteran elementary school teacher, storytelling coach, and best-selling author, Dicks knows how the right narrative can transform mundane messages into stories that stick. In his book, Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling (https://fastersmarter.io/storyworthy) , he explores how to capture and hold an audience’s attention, which is particularly critical for business leaders. "When we tell a story about a product or service, the people we work with, our company, we become memorable and interesting and entertaining in a way that doesn't happen very often in business," he says.


In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart (https://www.fastersmarter.io/) , Dicks and host Matt Abrahams discuss practical techniques for crafting compelling narratives, from setting a scene to creating suspense. “Don’t build a building. Don’t buy a machine,” he says. Becoming a better storyteller is one of the most effective ways to level up. “It’s a crazy thing for businesses,” he says.


Episode Reference Links:

• Matthew Dicks (https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/m...)
• Matthew’s Book: Storyworthy (https://fastersmarter.io/storyworthy)  
• Ep.50 Telling Good Stories: How to Use the Elements of Narrative to Keep Listeners Engaged (https://www.fastersmarter.io/50-telli...)
• Ep.47 Quick Thinks: How to Use Storytelling to Be a Better Founder (https://www.fastersmarter.io/47-quick...)  





Connect:

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• Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning ＞＞＞ FasterSmarter.io (http://fastersmarter.io/)
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• Matt Abrahams ＞＞＞ LinkedIn (  / maabrahams  )


Chapters:




• (00:00) - Introduction



• (00:49) - Why Storytelling Matters in Business



• (02:25) - The Essence of a Good Story



• (04:26) - Become a Better Storyteller



• (06:06) - Using Suspense in Stories



• (08:12) - Suspense in Business Communication



• (10:14) - Structuring Stories Like Scenes



• (12:23) - Relating Stories to Life



• (14:50) - Homework for Life



• (17:30) - Storytelling Delivery



• (18:37) - The Final Three Questions



• (22:42) - Conclusion