storytelling
June 2019
Where Will This Summer Lead You?
We’re now weeks away from the official start of summer here in the northern hemisphere. In theory, we should slow down and spend more time outdoors enjoying our natural surroundings. Everything is supposed to be lighter during summer months—the days, clothing, meals and ambitions. As such, our consumption of media often takes a hiatus from heavy material, too. That’s why this month I’m recommending content that left me smiling (and one bonus that didn’t but...
In 1905, an 11-year-old Frank Epperson mixed a soft drink powder with water and then accidentally left the sugary liquid and stirring stick outside on his family’s San Francisco porch overnight. The youngster woke the next morning to discover an ice pop, which some years later became the frozen treat now trademarked Popsicle. (So named by Epperson’s children, who called him “Pop,” after rejecting his first eponymous suggestion: the Eppsicle.) It’s a lovely origin story....
The objective of the phrase “just do it” can be transformed in many different ways depending upon the accompanying tone. It could be orally stated in a crushing indifferent manner, or it could be boldly stylized as seen in Nike’s signature 30-year-old “JUST DO IT” campaign that continues to inspire all fitness levels to embrace exercise (while donning Nike products). Conveying an appropriate tone of voice that is aligned with your brand (company or personal)...
The Thanksgiving leftovers are gone, and all things pumpkin have transitioned to everything peppermint. Perfect time to feast on a film, a feature and a podcast to both incite and inspire us during the next round of holidays. [watch] The price of monitoring online content. The PBS series Independent Lens recently aired an excellent documentary on offshore content moderators paid to screen and often block controversial pictures and videos. The filmmakers juxtapose young Filipinos hired to...
I spent part of this winter in central Oregon, where it snowed often and ice frequently accumulated on the roads. One early March morning I confidently headed out for groceries in a Nissan Pathfinder and very briefly lost control of the vehicle. I’d misjudged the Pathfinder’s four-wheel drive, my own competence and the road’s slick surface. So, with that event still fresh in my mind, I’ll open this month’s recommendations for what to read, watch...
March 2018
Highflying Creativity
READ Stinkbugs Made Memorable Pulitzer Prize-winning staff writer at The New Yorker, Kathryn Schulz, guides you with ease through her almost 7,000-word article on our country’s recent infiltration of the brown marmorated stinkbug. What first attracted me to this article was my own battle last year with these slow-moving and smelly intruders. What engaged me was how Schulz peppered her article with content that relies less on facts and figures, but more on the “sticky”...
February 2018
At the Core
READ What’s Your Value(s) Story? A few months back, I wrote about how it is imperative to consistently weave a company’s core values into a narrative through blog posts, online communities, articles, e-newsletters, e-books and more. A company’s core values are what shapes the essence of its identity and inspires its customers, prospects, employees and strategic partners to align themselves with a brand and, in turn, take positive action. Never has there been more scrutiny...
If you’re spending the majority of your resources writing audacious advertising claims to promote your brand, products and services, then stop. In the age of self-educating customers, you need to be offering high-quality content that’s educational, thoughtful and entertaining. Here’s six tips on how to redirect your marketing efforts for effective results. 1. Know thy brand strategy. Your company’s ultimate purpose for existing (beyond making money) and your target customer are at the core of...
February 2018
‘Can We Trust the Numbers?’
This is Anne’s February installation of what we’re reading, watching and listening to. I recently worked for months on a big project for a client in healthcare IT. It was based on an extensive survey of current, select practices by clinicians, clinical informaticists and IT managers. It involved a lot of data crunching and more than one meeting to go over those data points. What struck me in the course of creating an infographic and...
October 2017
The Art and Science of Storytelling
Over the years I’ve had quite a few occasions to tell someone about a strange, silly or special moment of mine, to which they frequently comment that I certainly have an interesting life. I always respond, “So do you. I’m just maybe a bit better at telling my story.” It’s true. Every one of us is full of great stories that either we witness or experience directly. That’s why one of the favorite parts of...