Comments on: What Warren Zevon Can Teach Us about Storytelling

By: Brad Shorr

Brad Shorr — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:54:06 +0000

Hi Butch, Lawyers, Guns and Money could make a Hollywood film or TV series. Too bad Warren isn't around to write the scripts. Zevon was also a very good collaborator. Mastering the art of collaboration is quite important for business writing. Brad Shorrs last blog post..Product Pages - How to Write a Website, Chapter 3

By: Robert "Butch" Greenawalt

Robert "Butch" Greenawalt — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:45:08 +0000

"Nice Execution" I spend much of my time when not immersed in some form of networking with music constantly going, it's my prozac. Really enjoyed the accuracy and the message. Lawyers, Guns and Money would = how many blog related stories? Cheers Brad, Robert "Butch" Greenawalts last blog post..A Belief in Belief

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:39:08 +0000

Look forward to hearing to hearing one or two of those stories.

By: Brad Shorr

Brad Shorr — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:32:23 +0000

Hi Sam, it was hard for me to leave out ANY of the lyrics to “Roland”, but I didn’t think it was kosher to duplicate the whole song. Those “Mohammed” lyrics are spooky. They could have been written yesterday.

By: Sam

Sam — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:18:56 +0000

Brad,
Why’d you leave out “Patty Hearst heard the burst
Of Roland’s Thompson gun and bought it.”
So we find out the Roland became a gunrunner in his later years.
That sealed the song and deal and I bought it too.
So now can we move on to “Mohammed’s Radio?” – especially fits in with the lyric about the price of gasoline, i.e.:
“Everybody’s desperate trying to make ends meet
Work all day, still can’t pay the price of gasoline and meat
Alas, their lives are incomplete.”

-Sam

By: Karen Swim

Karen Swim — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:21:43 +0000

Hey Brad! A follow-up would be awesome!I can’t tell you how much I personally appreciate coming here, learning new things and being inspired!

By: Brad Shorr

Brad Shorr — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:52:40 +0000

Hey Karen, glad I could help get you going! (How’s the campaign going?) I’m thinking of a follow-up post using another, I think even better, Warren Zevon story. What do you think?

By: Karen Swim

Karen Swim — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:43:35 +0000

Brad, wow! I was pulled right in from the first line. When I was in Sales I always used stories in presentations. It’s funny I never made the connection back then that I loved the art of storytelling. This post is an awesome reminder and tutorial on how writers can use their art in the business world. Thanks Brad for getting me excited about work today. My creative juices are flowing!

Karen

By: Brad Shorr

Brad Shorr — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:42:04 +0000

Hi Andrew, thanks for the great post idea. I will do it, or something along those lines. Not sure I have a favorite story – so much depends on circumstance. Telling stories on live sales calls is always a good idea, but you have to keep them short. I find people to be especially interested in stories about people in the same industry or in businesses with great similarity to their own.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:55:47 +0000

Brad,

I can understand why stories would capture the imagination and could be used to illustrate a point to a customer.

I am curious – do you often tell short stories when talking face to face with a customer?

I would imagine that one type of story you might use would be testimonials from other customers. If for example, a door to door salesperson was trying to sell a vacuum cleaner, the prospect would not be particularly impressed by a detailed description of the machines technical specifications. Rather, the prospect would be more impressed by a story about how the lady down the road tried it and found it to be really effective and easy to use.

I am curious – what other types of stories would you tell customers or prospective customers? Maybe you could tell your favorite in another blog entry.

Cheers

Andrew

Cheers

Andrew