What's your Brand Story? Some people say Brand storytelling is a bit ‘fluffy’, or ‘nice to have’ for their business, but I believe digging deeper into your Brand Story has the potential to transform it into your dream business.

Far from being ‘airy fairy’, your Brand Story is the beating heart of your business, the solid foundation. And there are endless benefits to getting it right. The only brands that thrive are the ones that truly understand this. And the ones that don’t, usually fail.

That’s goes not just for global brands, but for small businesses too.

Brand Story is often misunderstood by business leaders, so in this episode I explain what your Brand Story is and why it’s essential to understand it if you are a business leader.

In this episode you’ll find out what your Brand Story is, the many benefits of getting cleary on it and why digging deeper into your Brand Story could give you the answers you didn’t know you needed.

Find out more about I can help you get clear on your Brand Story here.

Takeaways from this episode:

🟠 Brand story is everything in your business.

🟠 A Brand Story isn't 'fluffy' or a 'nice to have', it's an essential solid foundation for your business.

🟠 Brands that do not truly understand their Brand Story are more likely to fail.

🟠 Big brands need brand stories, but small businesses do too.

🟠 Your Brand Story is made up of your: Brand foundation (purpose, vision, values); Understanding your customer; understanding what you do and what makes you different from your competitors; Origin Story.

🟠 Understanding your brand story has lots of important benefits.

🟠 Your brand story helps you brief designers effectively.

🟠 Understanding your Brand Story helps you make better decisions and save time.

🟠 Standing out in the marketplace is crucial and is an important part of your Brand Story.

🟠 Knowing your brand story empowers your team to work more independently and make better decisions.

🟠 Attracting the right customers is essential for business and is an important part of your Brand Story.

🟠 A strong Brand Story makes you feel good about your business.

Story Slurp is hosted and produced by Victoria Brown.

LINKS:

• Get your Brand Story Canvas here.
• Get on the Brand Story Clarity Challenge wait list here.
• Find out how we can help you tell your story here.

Alex Merry is the Founder of MicDrop, a public speaking community that helps founders, solopreneurs, and thought leaders get clear on their message, build their personal brand, and get paid to speak.

A former start-up COO and Founder of TEDxClapham, Alex is the go-to public speaking coach for the leaders of some of fastest-growing startups and scale-ups in the world. He’s helped founders raise over £300M in funding, worked on talks that have changed government legislation, and helped craft messages that have gone viral online.

What makes him different?

His expertise lies in messaging strategy, not just stage presence - helping leaders articulate their ideas in a way that cuts through the noise, builds authority, and drives action.

In this episode Alex gives us loads of practical tips on how to be a better speaker, why he thinks most of us put too much pressure on ourselves and why the Ted events we see on our screens are never the same as what actually happens in real life.

Alex firmly believes that presentations don't have to be perfect, storytelling is vital to create engaging talks, speaking can be a tool for change and that everyone can improve their speaking skills, if they try.

In this episode Alex gives us loads of practical tips on how to be a better speaker, why he thinks most of us put too much pressure on ourselves and why the Ted events we see on our screens are never the same as what actually happens in real life.

Alex firmly believes that presentations don't have to be perfect, storytelling is vital to create engaging talks, speaking can be a tool for change and that everyone can improve their speaking skills, if they try.

If you’ve ever wanted to get better at speaking or peep behind the scenes of what it takes to do a Ted talk, this episode is for you.

Takeaways:

• Alex Merry is a public speaking coach with a unique journey - he's been a TedX organiser and has learned to speak well, despite not enjoying it himself.
• He emphasizes the importance of imperfect presentations.
• The right message can create monumental impacts.
• Storytelling is crucial for engaging diverse audiences.
• Understanding your own story enhances your communication.
• Intention behind sharing stories is key.
• Public speaking can be a tool for change.
• It's important to connect with the audience's level of understanding.
• Everyone can improve their speaking skills with practice. Understanding the purpose of storytelling is crucial.
• Personal stories should connect with the audience, not manipulate them.
• Communication should focus on the audience's needs and goals.
• Reluctance to share personal stories can indicate deeper insights.
• Coaching experiences can significantly enhance communication skills.
• Master communicators use unexpected examples to engage audiences.
• Data should be used sparingly and effectively in storytelling.
• Finding a unique voice is essential for impactful communication.
• TED talks can have a significant impact beyond view counts.
• Acknowledging one's limits can lead to growth and success.

Story Slurp is hosted and produced by Victoria Brown.

LINKS:

• Get your Brand Story Canvas here.
• Get on the Brand Story Clarity Challenge wait list here.
• Find out how we can help you tell your story here.

Ever been part of a meeting that just seemed like a huge waste of time?

Have you ever considered using visuals as a tool to create better conversations, make better decisions and help everyone to feel involved?

Meet Ellie Chapman, the Creative Director of Lim - a Graphic facilitation agency - which brings events and meetings to life, so that participants can understand the meeting on a deeper level, and get more impactful results.

So many of us learn visually, so working with a graphic facilitator can really help bring a different dimension to conversations, and help make them more inclusive.

In this episode, Ellie talks about how she started her business, why visual storytelling is essential for effective communication and how facilitation runs in the family as well as oodles of tips on how to bring your own meetings to life visually. She also reflects on her personal growth, the challenges of overcoming self-doubt, and her commitment to mentoring the next generation of communicators.

You can find out more about Ellie and Lim here.

Takeaways

• Visual storytelling is essential for effective communication in business.
• Ellie's upbringing influenced her career path in facilitation.
• Gaining respect from senior leaders requires credibility and trust.
• Visuals serve as a shared resource during meetings.
• Inclusivity in meetings leads to better decision-making.
• Values such as collaboration and creativity are crucial for business success.
• Self-doubt can be managed through positive self-talk.
• Mentoring the next generation is vital for future communication skills.
• Silence can be a powerful tool in meetings.
• Flexibility in meeting processes enhances engagement. Visualizing success can help overcome self-doubt.
• It's important to observe negative self-talk without letting it control you.
• Embracing challenges leads to personal growth and resilience.
• Building a brand requires passion and alignment with personal values.
• COVID-19 forced businesses to adapt and innovate in their operations.
• Sustainability is a key focus for modern businesses.
• Visual communication can enhance understanding and retention of information.
• Starting small with visual techniques can lead to significant improvements.
• Creating meaningful connections with clients is essential for business success.
• Having a clear vision for the future drives motivation and progress.

Story Slurp is hosted and produced by Victoria Brown.

LINKS:

• Get your Brand Story Canvas here.
• Get on the Brand Story Clarity Challenge wait list here.
• Find out how we can help you tell your story here.