The Art of Storytelling with Maggie Patterson

On this episode of Rhodes to Success, I interview communications strategist Maggie Patterson, who works with entrepreneurs and corporations to help them craft intelligent communications strategies. Maggie believes that all the marketing in the world won’t get us anywhere if you don’t have the right message in place, which is where stories come in!  Maggie helps her clients figure out what to say, when to say it, and how to say it. She is the host of Moxie Marketing podcast, and has more than 15 years of experience. If you want to know why stories work in selling your product or service, then you must listen to this podcast!   Main Questions Asked: <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       How do stories help us sell our products and services? <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       How do you weave stories in when you are giving valuable information? <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       How do you help people figure out what stories are relevant and will help them? <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       How do you tell a story that is average and doesn’t seem relevant? <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       Do you have any thoughts on social media flaws and saying too much? <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       Talk about your Moxie Marketing podcast and building that platform. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       What is your experience in growing an audience but not obsessing over it?   Key Lessons Learned:   Storytelling <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       There is a definite science behind why stories work. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       A story activates multiple parts of your brain. Your imagination fills in the blanks, and turns a story into a memory. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       If you hear about facts and logic, only two zones are activated, which are rational areas. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       Stories stay with us longer than facts and figures. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       A micro story is adding something memorable that creates a connection with the audience.   Entrepreneurs and Stories <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       As entrepreneurs, we get stuck on the idea that the story should be about us.   <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       Ask yourself where you can start to share your personality (social media or blog posts?). <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       Start to look at how your experiences fit into your personal story. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       We have a tendency to get stuck in the ‘Hero’s Journey,’ which gets tired.   Finding Your Story <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       No matter how average or boring we think our story is, we all have defining moments. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       Due to the stories we consume, we now expect them to all be inspirational. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       Implicit egoism is people liking and wanting to connect with people just like themselves. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       Never underestimate the power of the relatable story. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       Define what your story will be and how you will show up in the world. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       You don’t have to expose all your ‘dirty laundry.’ Storytelling is always done on your terms.   Vulnerability, Social Media and Business <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       We have been trained on the idea that we need to be vulnerable and transparent. However, this can go too far and put you in ‘victim territory,’ which can be a bad thing for your business. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       If you are sharing too much online or stories that are not appropriate to your business, you could attract the wrong type of clients or alienate existing clients. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       If you are ‘free and loose’ with telling your stories, start to think and post about what is impactful. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       Remember that you can’t own every issue and niche. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       Everything about you online reflects on you as a business owner.   Podcasting <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       If you are looking at a podcast as a marketing tool, then get focused on the purpose and mission of values rather than the downloads. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       Make sure you know where your podcast fits in with your business. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       Success comes in so many different ways and can only be defined by you. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       Remember every download is someone letting you in.   Subscribe to the show in iTunes or Stitcher Radio!   The music in today's episode was written by The Danger Os and produced by Nick Palmer. Check them out at https://www.facebook.com/thedangerosmakemusic    Links to Resources Mentioned  Maggie Patterson Marketing Moxie Podcast John Lee Dumas Interview Connections  Entrepreneur Support Services