Tell stories … not just facts…

This post was inspired by Michael Katz, Chief Penguin of Blue Penguin Development.  I subscribe to his free bi-monthly newsletter, and suggest you do so too. Great marketing ideas (and even classes) for solo entrepreneurs.

In a recent newsletter, Michael opened with this great story, where he recommended using stories to illustrate ideas. Since I like and use stories in my training classes, I sent him the following comment:

Hi Michael,

Here is a quick story. I’ve been telling stories as real world examples in my engineering training classes for many years. But I often wondered if it was effective or just boring people.

That was until Phoenix blogging colleague and friend Pamela Slim pointed out research showing we humans remember stories even if we forget facts.

So I started telling people at the beginning of the class that I would illustrate key points with stories, and why I was doing so.

End of class reviews typically include comments like “loved the stories; great stories, and more.” So I no longer worry.

Which brings me to another quick story. As an engineering student 50+ years ago (where has the time gone?) a favorite professor told the story of a researcher at Bell Labs who discovered a new semiconductor electronics effect.

What made the story interesting was the researcher had a PhD in forestry – he was originally hired to study telephone poles.

At the next exam, the prof asked about the “XYZ” effect. For some reason I could not remember, but I wrote it was discovered by a Bell Labs researcher with a PhD in forestry.

The prof gave me full credit with a note on the exam saying “not the answer I was looking for, but you were obviously listening in class.”

He had many other fascinating stories that I still remember, and think of him whenever I tell a technical story in my classes.

Thanks for sharing your stories!

Just got back from a class. Many positive comments about the stories, and how much students appreciated my sharing real world experiences, rather than just pumping out facts and equations.

Stories also work with general consulting recommendations. They can prove a point, while also reinforcing your credibility. Sometimes you need to convince a client to try something they don’t really want to do — success stories can help!

More MichaelKatz info here:

Resource Review – The Likable Expert Gazette (January 2013)

Writing Magazine Articles – An Interview with the Blue Penguin… (September 2016)

Some Marketing References… (September 2017)

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