| Somewhere along the way we lost our imaginations. | | | | safari through Chitwan National Park, and then defied |
| As a child, didn't you believe you could rule the | | | | death by rafting the raging rapids of the Sun Koshi |
| world? There was no task too tough ... no obstacle | | | | River, how many people would relate to your story? |
| too large ... no limit to your success. Thanks to your | | | | Very few. |
| imagination, nothing was impossible. | | | | Now, if instead you wrote about your trip to the |
| If you have young kids, you're reminded of this | | | | grocery store, your morning drive to the office or |
| aptitude for achievement almost every day -- often | | | | even your last vacation, do you think prospects |
| in the form of stories. My 3-year-old daughter can | | | | might see some similarities in their daily activities? Of |
| spin a tale that would have left Walt Disney | | | | course. Don't let your inner critic prevent you from |
| scrambling for a pen and paper. As you grow up, | | | | coming up with stories. In every company, on every |
| however, "wiser" adults target your inner thoughts | | | | day, people -- including you -- overcome adversity, |
| by telling you what you can and can't do. | | | | solve problems and deliver results. |
| Consequently, one skill that often deteriorates with | | | | One of the easiest ways to write a sales-generating |
| your imagination is storytelling. | | | | story is by explaining how a client successfully used |
| In marketing, stories are powerful persuasive tools | | | | your product or service. Start by simply writing down |
| that can help you generate sales because they allow | | | | the facts you want to highlight. Then fill in the gaps |
| readers to form their own conclusions. There's little | | | | by explaining the problem, the action taken and the |
| need for an aggressive sales pitch. Where people go | | | | results achieved. Wherever possible, paint a picture in |
| wrong is thinking they must come up with a tale | | | | your prospect's mind by describing details such as |
| about an elaborate experience or else no one will find | | | | sights, sounds or feelings. |
| their story interesting. And that's a huge mistake! | | | | An added bonus of storytelling is that it helps |
| People are drawn to stories because they have a | | | | differentiate you from a competitive marketplace. |
| natural desire to relate to the characters. If you tell a | | | | After all, no one can duplicate the way you present |
| tale about how you took a Sherpa-guided hike | | | | your story. Now go out there and tell your tale. |
| through the Himalayas, hopped on an elephant for a | | | | |
