1145: Going The Distance

My business is built on the foundation of simple, powerful idea: People who tell better stories, get better lives... Like most simple ideas, it scales well, from day to day decision making to ... yes, becoming a movie star: In 1976, Sylvestor Stallone created one of cinemas most enduring characters. Yes ... Rocky lost the prize fight, but he won the girl (and the Oscar for Best Picture) so I guess he came out on top... My favourite line from the movie hints at a classic rule of storyelling. Here it is: “I was nobody. But that don't matter either, you know? 'Cause I was thinkin', it really don't matter if I lose this fight. It really don't matter if this guy opens my head, either. 'Cause all I wanna do is go the distance.” All I wanna do is go the distance. I LOVE that. But here's the crucial insight. It doesn't matter what Rocky says, it only matters WHAT HE DOES. Does he go the distance? In great stories, character is REVEALED THROUGH ACTION. And as in stories, so in life. Stallone's use of storytelling to market Rocky was as powerful as anything in the movie itself. Legend says that he was broke when he wrote it. He finished the script in three days. He turned down a fortune to star in it himself. And ended up on stage at the Oscars. Which brings us to a foundation strategy for telling a better business story... See you tomorrow, Nick --- This is one of thirty riffs on #Business #Storytelling. Follow me to get the series. ------------------- The Stories Mean Business podcast with Nick Warren. One Idea A Day, Every Day. Get deeper into business storytelling: https://storiesmeanbusiness.com/storybusiness/ https://storiesmeanbusiness.com/podcast