Strictly Personal
I’m always fascinated by people. Their actions, reactions thoughts habits, the whole thing. In fact here’s a question for you. Have you ever just sat somewhere and watched people walk by and wondered…
“What’s their story?”
I remember people watching when I was in Amsterdam several years ago. My friends and I were eating lunch waiting for our next business appointment. There are a lot of outside seating restaurants along the main street. As you can expect, a well visited internal hub brings people from all over the world and you can watch hundreds walk by.
My friends and I were relaxing for a while and just pondered the many different types of people walking by. So many different languages being spoken. So many different ethnic groups flowing by and I had to wonder…
“What’s their story?”
What makes them tick?
What makes them do the things they do?
What are their hopes, goals, fears?
What drives or motivates them?
Everyone has a story. Everyone has some kind of history, personal experiences that make up who they are. I often would tell others…
“People crack me up and I love em for that.”
I believe we all are in a people business and we should know more about them. It doesn’t matter what we’re trying to push or promote online or offline you’re in the people business. And knowing that will separate you from everyone else.
This kind of thinking…about other people may cause you to wonder. Wonder how to attract them to your business. Wonder how to build those powerful relationships. Wonder how to make a difference in their world. Even wonder how to make a shift in theirs…and yours communities.
“What’s their story?”
When people look to market online they tend to forget who they are real quick. The concepts in attraction marketing are not new, nor are they difficult to understand. What typically happens is they forget that they need to connect with people. Build that relationship. Find that link that allows this bridge to be built.
How to fix this? Share your story. In fact share your stories, all of them.
Let’s call this “My Story Marketing” How this works is you bridge the gap between training and a personal experience. You relate the issue back to a story. Make the connection for people. This is a very simple and yet very powerful at the same time. The stories conjure a visual image people can relate to. It’s both entertaining and educational at the same time.
Here are three quick tips to bring this all home for you.
- Keep the stories brief. There is no need to drag it out for 15 paragraphs.
- Don’t push it, let the story flow. Simple and easy is most affective.
- Speak the truth. You don’t need to make something up. In fact you can share someone else’s story
I once heard that a new sales man was following a seasoned sales man around learning the ropes. They went out to a few appointments and the seasoned sales man had one rule. Follow my lead. The two sales men met with their client and listened to what his business was all about. They then took their client out to dinner and listened to his life story.
When the sales men were heading off to the airport for their trip home the younger sales man said the trip was a waste of time. The older sales man said nothing. When they got back to their office they received a call from their client and was awarded the largest deal in that companies history.
Everyone has a story. They are all around coming and going like the wind.
What’s your story?
Ken Pickard
The Network Dad
I love to watch people Ken. I can be entertained just sitting some place watching . Trying to figure who they are, what they’re thinking and what’s their story.
Everyone can relate to you when you share your own experience I believe. No, we aren’t all perfect and get it right the first time either. So by sharing that experience, others will see that they are just like you.
I definitely have plenty of stories to share and I have along the way. That has helped people realize just how approachable I really am.
Love this post Ken and hope everyone will take your advice and add some stories along the way. I can’t wait to read them all.
~Adrienne
Adrienne recently posted..Blogging Community To The Rescue
Hi Ken,
I absolutely agree that taking the time to share stories with others is such a fantastic way to make strong connections by building trust, rapport, and showing that we care.
I, like Adrienne, have shared my stories at different times with people (mostly in one on one calls, group webinars, and also on my blog). I have found that it’s a nice way to “break the ice” with people and give them a sense of who we are and what we’re all about.
I remember back in the late 90s & early 00s (before 9/11) it was okay to just walk around airports and hang out or go right up to the gate to meet your guests who were coming into town. I’m a musician (bet you didn’t know that eh?) and I used to love to go to the airport to watch the people bustling by. I remember sitting at Sbarro with a Pepsi and and old friend just people-watching, getting ideas while imagining others’ lives and stories. This was one way I would become inspired and was a great origination point for a number of songs I wrote.
So, there’s another lil story from me! Thanks for encouraging me to share it here!
Cat
Cat Alexandra recently posted..22,000 people and over 5 million dollars paid in commission can’t be wrong
I really enjoyed this article. I think it can also help people who are stuck in finding their true passion or niche in their marketing. Everyone is unique and everyone has a story.
Thanks for writing this.
Be Blessed,
Christy
Christy Lee recently posted..Jigsaw Puzzle Mentality
Hello Ken, and fellow people-watcher! This is one of my favorite things to do when out to dinner with my husband.
Everyone has a story. I have counseled so many people, I could write a novel! I love hearing people’s stories. So much so, that sometimes I give some time to the local retirement center, bring in my dog for the old folks and listen to their stories. They are the best I’ve ever heard.
Sharing our story is a great way to get people to connect with us. We learn to be our true selves, but we forget sometimes to share a story.
Thanks Ken, this is a good reminder for me. It is something I know, but didn’t implement.
Blessings,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..How To Leverage Your Blog Content
I love this post Ken,
I like you and the others who have commented so far love watching people. I used to spend a lot of time in airports waiting for planes and love to watch people saying goodbye, greeting each other. It is really fascinating.
We do all have a past and a story.
I love your story of the two salesmen, such a good lesson.
Sue
Sue Price recently posted..Network Marketing Success– Jonathan Budd interview Eric Worre
This is a great article. Much more refreshing than the usual stuff. I’ll think about it next time I’m people watching. But most of all when I’m networking with others.
Thanks!
Dennis recently posted..MLM Tips: Turning a No Into a Yes
Hey Ken… Now THAT was a good story! In fact, I think it followed all the points you outlined… your insights flowed smoothly, making for a very enjoyable post!
I could relate to “people watching” and “wondering, what is their story?” It doesn’t matter who they are, or what they are doing… everybody has a story that makes for personal interest to others. When we take the time to listen and genuinely show an interest in others, we’ll find THAT to be one of the BIG secrets in attraction marketing.
Your example of the two salesmen is a great lesson in cultivating the relationship with the client, or friend. It’s a BRILLIANT story, yet so many people in their rush to make the deal, or let others know about “me” miss it entirely.
It was simple and straight-forward, but also one of the most enjoyable posts I’ve read in some time! Thanks Ken!
Not too long ago someone asked me what superpower I would want to have and we both agreed that we’d want to be the proverbial fly on someone’s kitchen wall to see inside their lives and what “makes things tick”. It’s like having the superpower to witness the story in action! Anyway, I mentioned that because I love stories, I love hearing about what people did in their lives, where they went wrong, how they succeeded. It makes things really interesting and also very personal. Plus it’s inspirational because inevitably there is something you can take away from every story and see in your own life. I find that the best relationships I have with clients are the ones in which we both share our stories because it goes beyond business and into “people”. Thanks for sharing this!
Carol Lynn recently posted..How Video Animation Can Enhance Your Marketing By Helping You Say More With Less
Hi Ken,
I’m always looking at people and creating stories about them. But I almost never talk to strangers and share my story with them. I almost did it yesterday, when a man started to talk to me while I was in Oslo. But I’m terrible at small talk, so I didn’t contribute much
Jens P. Berget recently posted..This Should Not Be a Secret
Ken,
I think we tend to forget that everyone has a story. Heck, I think mine is pretty boring. Then I tell someone I know online a little tidbit about me and they are excited to know and relate.
It is really a great idea to simply share a little about yourself here and there. Like you do. I like the photos you have around your site, very personable. It makes me smile, remember you and then come back.
~Allie
Allie | Ramblings of a WAHM recently posted..The Second Leg of My Online Journey: Starting to Feel That Sense of Accomplishment
Hi Ken,
We, as humans love to tell our story, and therefore we love it when people are listening to us. No doubt that old sales man knew about this and listening to the life story of this potential customer was a good move.
The good thing about stories is that we like both telling them and listening to them or read about them as well.
Thanks for this post and have a great week end!
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Why Should You Be Grateful?
No question that nothing is gained by putting up a front. You are much better off to have a “me in 30 seconds” story and keep it real.
Your belief and enthusiasm will carry the day.
tom
Tom Bradley recently posted..MLM Success Not Just About The Tools…3 Tips To Make Your Tools Deliver As Promised
Hi Ken,
People are very amazing ‘coz we’re made differently and we’re destined to what God been given to us. I also wonder why those people laugh, cry, mad etc.
Hello Ken! I immigrated to the US from Hungary, and I feel my story connects with a lot of people! It gives people inspiration if they see someone like themselves, that has succeeded here in the US. I speak with an accent, and I do not let it stop me from pursuing network marketing. Maybe someone else who is intimidated to speak with an accent, will see my video and say: “If that Akos guy can do it, I CAN!”…That is the power that can live in one person’s story. Thanks for sharing!