StoryDoing!

Ok I just made the word up but I like it because it sums up my passions!

Story + Doing = StoryDoing.

Storydoing.

#StoryDoing.

I started this article as a stream of consciousness but I hope you find it of interest. Maybe it resonates with your own views.

What I have realised in the 30 years I have been helping some of the world's greatest organisations share their stories is it's not about Storytelling!

There is no point having a Story if you don't do anything with it or just send messages (Telling).

You need to help people use the Story to improve something or shed light on an issue.

The Story helps people Do stuff.

You need Evidence to back up the Story. That's the Historian and Journalist in me, always looking for the 'truth'. Where are the facts, the data, the primary sources, the details, the insights, the numbers, the experts, the technicians, the engineers, the scientists or your customers experiences? Without these people providing real evidence it's just spin, hype and fake news! Of course we need the marketing, creative and media magicians to bring the Story to life but without Substance and Structure it's just Style.

I've been lucky to work with the world's greatest brand owners, media organisations and emergency services:

BBC.

RNLI.

Omnicom.

Centaur.

NPL.

They have all taught me a lot.

These organisations know how to communicate and innovate and use science to improve the way we live.

The global brand owners and SMEs I have worked with, in many different sectors, are world leaders in marketing, insight, innovation and manufacturing amazing products to make our lives easier.

I've also worked with some fantastic creative and strategic agencies full of brilliant people.

So why do I believe in StoryDoing?

I've been telling, sharing and listening to stories since I was a young boy in the cobbled stone back streets of Bolton and now I live in Teddington, by the River Thames. A beautiful, vibrant river of stories, literally.

I love stories. I am in love with stories. They are what make us alive as human beings. A day without knowing a new story is a waste.

We are not meant to be a slave to computer screens but we cannot live without them now and we are better for the computer. We can now connect with people all over the world and share stories on a global scale within seconds.

However us human beings still love nothing more than 3D Communication, the new way of communicating. Well it's not actually new to be honest. 3D is just people coming together, meeting up in real life, hanging out.

It's where people come together in a cafe or bar or at some shared experience and just talk, laugh, chat, share ideas and fix each others problems or simply to have some banter.

It's actually about Story-Doing.

Evidence + Story + People = Change (Change Management and Activation)

My experiences with the BBC, the RNLI, Centaur and Omnicom have shaped my love of stories and helped me see how stories inform, educate and entertain or can also raise an issue to protect people. To enrich and save lives! The power of Storytelling.

I set up The Story Consultancy in 2005 to help people 'tell their story' and teach them how to tell them.

In 13 years much has changed but the love for storytelling is timeless.

Storytelling is a basic human skill that we all need to help us make a difference to others and share our skills so that we can earn money, provide for our families and inspire others to get the best out of themselves.

We are living in the most exciting years but then they probably said that in medieval times when the world was being discovered and new trade routes were being opened up.

I have worked with some of the most amazing people on this planet and learned some great things. Some of them appear to be from another world such is their intellectuality.

In the last few weeks alone I have met with really talented people in all kinds of industries.

They all share a passion to make a difference and keep pushing to find new more exciting ways of doing things and helping others.

Thank you to all who I have met over the years and for sharing your stories, ideas, passions with me.

They have helped to inform me and be a sounding board for some of my ideas. They have shared their own great ideas and we have put the world to rights over many a coffee. They have inspired me to write this article. I would love to get all my contacts in one room or maybe hire out a football ground to let them all swap business cards and help each other. while watching Bolton Wanderers. Maybe I will one day!

LinkedIn enables us all to connect digitally and I am a creative connector at heart.

Companies and brands are like children.

We want to see them continue to grow and help the world. To look after them so that they prosper and give something back.

I like to teach what I know but above all I learn more by listening to others share their stories and helping them to do something great with their stories.

I learn nothing when I am speaking!

History, Journalism, Sales, Marketing, New Business Development are all the ingredients I have put together to help sculpt the story and make it shine! A Story soup. I have been helped by some fab people along the way.

Stories are nothing without people.

I love to know what makes people, companies and brands tick.

You can't tell a story unless you understand your audience and listen, really listen, to what they want to do, what they need.

Here are some stories we have developed with our clients.

TheStoryConsultancyStories2018

I am looking forward to the months and years ahead and helping more people tell more stories.

What is your story?

Drop me a line at [email protected] if you would like to discuss what I mean by 'Storytelling In A Business Context' and 'StoryDoing' and how The Story Consultancy can help with your challenges and plans.

'Hey up' as we say in Bolton!

Paul Stallard

Founder & Chief Storyteller

The Story Consultancy

www.thestoryconsultancyuk.com

#StoryDoing; #Storytelling