Storytelling Equals Storyselling

Seth Godin says, Marketing is no longer about the stuff you make, but the stories you tell.

A few days ago, I did something I have never done! I bought music online. Don't judge me haha! I just have never been moved or motivated enough to act and go through with a purchase...

until...

The story happened. The story of Gregory Porter, jazz singer.

At the end of the news portion of a Saturday morning show, they always bring a singer or musician on and then interview them. Most of the time, I don't pay any attention, so what happened this day?

The story happened. 

After doing a song which was jazzy and smooth, he talked about how he grew up with no father and a mom who was a streetfront preacher. As a young boy, he remembered a Thanksgiving where his mother cooked a huge meal, but not for her family. NO! It was for the homeless who had no food. As she returned from feeding the homeless, she brought back the turkey bones for Gregory and the rest of the family to gnaw on. Turkey bones! WOW! 

Now, I sat up and listened. His story touched my heart.

The story bridged the gap from listening to his music to purchasing his music! It caused me to act.

Later, a story I read about his young life was the year that school was getting ready to start and he had his clothes all picked out for the first day. 

His mom had other plans.

She took his clothes and gave them to a homeless boy who had no clothes to start school in. 

Each time she took from the little they had to give to those who had even less, she told him he would understand later. And he finally did. Knowing these stories that now saturate his music makes the music even more touching as I feel I know his heart.

It became personal. And I did something I have never done before. 

I acted!

Knowing the story created a bond, a sense of knowing that was personal, and it moved me to purchase what he was selling. In fact, I am listening to his music as I write this. 

I am currently reading the book (and Tim is listening to the audio version), "Stories that Stick" by Kindra Hall. It is ahhhhh-mazing! Lot's of ahhhs, ohs, duh and wow moments are in the pages of this book. I highly recommend it. 

It is seriously one of the best books I have ever read!

One thing from the book that this Tidbit story reminds me of:

The 3 linear parts of a story or the Timeline:

     1. Normal

     2. Explosion

     3. New normal

We started out with normal when I was watching the TV show. Then there was the explosion of Gregory Porter's story. My normal was so moved that I purchased his music and now, I am in a new normal. Do you see the connections? This is a powerful tool that we are not using enough if at all!

Understanding all of the nuances of this book will take time, but I believe it will improve our marketing, sales, website, blog and everything we do in the future.