What Stories do Successful Entrepreneurs Tell?

What’s the secret to creating a successful startup company? It’s actually the worst kept secret: enthusiasm and grit. Everyone who works for the company, from founders to the newest hires, should feel passionate enough about the company to make that extra sacrifice. Perhaps the greater secret to success lies not just with the “what” companies need, but in “how” they accomplish this task. So how does a startup inspire their people with that elusive characteristic of true grit? How do you create a culture so infectious your employees feel like partners, and find themselves thinking of new ideas 24/7? I read an article recently that really hit the nail on the head: Successful Entrepreneurs tell great stories.

Link to the full article is below, but it should be noted that there’s a difference between being able to tell good stories and having a well spun cover story (our outright lying). The latter is short-sighted and doomed to failure, as people tend to eventually find out the truth, especially in today's information age. It's also important to note that while you should definitely have a variety of stories in your arsenal, it's even more important to be able to choose the right one for the right moment, and that comes down to knowing your audience. If you've ever been to an investor networking event, you know the struggle that is hearing what seems to be the same pitch over and over (and over) again. It's the volume approach: tell your most general story to as many people as possible and see what sticks. Sometimes that works, but great storytellers are as effective with what they don't say as they are with what they do say. As Henry Green says, "The more you leave out, the more you highlight what you leave in."

More great advice (and story ideas) in the full article here.