Tag: conversational

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Translating Ogilvy’s 10 Writing Tips for 2020

  David Ogilvy penned his infamous advice on writing on Sept. 7, 1982 in a memo to his employees. His point of view still has relevance for anyone who touches business communications, not just the jingle jockeys and slogan makers. Still, they could use a refresh for 2020. Toward this end, I’ve captured Ogilvy’s 10 …more

Revisiting Trump’s Conversational Language

Roughly two years ago, I wrote a post about then-candidate Trump and how he used conversational language as a differentiator. Given his communications since moving into the White House, I decided to dust off the point of view that riffs on a Wall Street Journal column. Unfortunately, skipping to the end, bombastic did win the …more

Conversational Language as a Differentiator?

That’s the point from last week’s Wall Street Journal column, “The Way Trump Talks,” by Daniel Henninger. Henninger believes that language, specifically conversational language, could turn the election in Trump’s favor and that people have responded to Trump’s blunt language to the point of being oblivious to the content. “Many people today think food isn’t …more

Storytelling Grab Bag: Yom Kippur Prayer Book And The New York Knicks

Certain storytelling topics catch my attention, but don’t carry enough substance to warrant a standalone post. I’ve finally figured out how to weigh in on these topics. Introducing the “Storytelling Grab Bag,” a forum for discussing two to three topics in the same post. Storytelling Techniques at Yom Kippur Services All religions depend on storytelling. …more

Storytelling via Slideshare

I’ve got the SlideShare religion. Ironically, the use of slides, so often associated with mind-numbing – if not sleep-inducing – oral presentations, makes for a terrific storytelling platform for reading. Earlier in the year, I posted on “Telling a Story Through Visual Means” that reverse-engineered a charticle in WIRED Magazine. In a sense, SlideShare encompasses the …more

Storytelling in Warren Buffet Shareholder Letter

Back in 2008 I wrote it’s not enough that Warren Buffet has become one of the richest men in the world. He’s also a world-class storyteller. (If it makes you feel any better, at least he’s not handsome.) Nowhere does this gift go on public display more than in his annual letter to shareholders. It’s …more

Revisiting a Storytelling Master, Warren Buffett

I wrote about Warren Buffett’s gift for storytelling last year. If executives would simply take one lesson from Buffett’s communications, be conversational, the world would be a better place (cue the Coke music). In his most recent letter to shareholders (2008), there’s a paragraph that showcases Mr. Buffett at his best. All of us have read …more

An NPR Perspective on Storytelling

I stumbled across a compelling three-and-a-half-minute video with NPR’s Scott Simon sharing his perspective on how to tell a story (video below). It’s captivating, as reflected in the 43,000+ views. Before going further, let’s acknowledge that Scott Simon’s voice by itself is captivating. He could explain a recipe for nouveau meatloaf and I’d listen. Plus, anyone …more

Making Sure the Cobbler’s Kids Don’t Go Without Shoes

    PR consultancies are notorious for not applying their craft to building their own brands. I’d like to think we’re an exception to the rule. Equally important, we strive to bring the art of storytelling to our own communications as well as our clients. As a result, we’ve enjoyed attention in publications ranging from …more