What’s your story?

What’s your story?

It is probably a phrase that you have heard dozens if not hundreds of times over the course of the past few months. Hell you have probably uttered it to people you’ve met as well.

Happy Hours Story Book by Enid BlytonQuestion is, do you really think about what your story is?

You don’t have to answer that now.

But knowing your story and why others should care is something that everyone participating in social media, blogging or managing a brand’s social presence or community should do.

The social media space continues to fill with more and more clutter each day. You don’t have to be a scientist to know that standing out and gaining valuable mind or eyeball share becomes more difficult each day.

So instead of relying on gimmicks and industry statistics, take a step back, and look at what you are doing.

Individually

  • What makes you stand out?
  • What perspective are you bringing to the table?
  • What value does your story have to the audience?
  • Why should they come back?

For a company

  • What do your customers or stakeholders care about?
  • What content do you offer them?
  • Why should they come back to your website or community?
  • Why should the relationship continue after the purchase?

 

While I could go on with things to think about I won’t. There is no need to get preachy because this is something we all know deep down.

In the past 240 words I have talked about stories and why people should care more but have yet to tell you my story and why you should give two craps about what I have to say, so here goes.

I’m a thirty-something husband father, who worked in sports PR before moving over to do the same thing for Vistaprint, a company that provides marketing materials and solutions to small businesses. I moved over to social media at Vistaprint after getting Stephen Baker’s Beyond Blogs BusinessWeek thrown at me in a team meeting. I started this blog to talk the things I geek out about and draw from life experiences.

So if you’ve read this far; thanks, I appreciate you for checking out this site.

Now to the real question: What is YOUR story?

Image – prettybooks

6 Responses to What’s your story?
  1. AmyVernon
    May 9, 2012 | 10:05 pm

    What’s my story? I’m a 40-something mom of two great boys. Newspaper journalist for 20 years who shifted into social media after being laid off. Got into social while I was still at my last newspaper. Haven’t looked back. I get to write about technology and social media and basically whatever I’m interested in.

  2. jeffespo
    May 10, 2012 | 12:38 pm

     @AmyVernon You forgot the being Queen of Jersy part 🙂

  3. AmyVernon
    May 10, 2012 | 3:46 pm

     @jeffespo  Not queen of Jersey, queen of bacon. 😉

  4. metalmotivation
    June 12, 2012 | 8:07 am

    I agree that story is everything. Unless there is a “narrative” that people can identify with, the individual, company, or service is flat and impersonal. After all, don’t we identify most with the songs that tell our story?
     
    In addition, it is both stories and ideas that inspire (“to fill with ability”). Much like when we were kids returning home from seeing an action movie. For the next couple hours, we became something altogether different. We were inspired to live out the story we’d just seen on film.
     
    All to say, I try to make my story include both the actual narrative of my personal history as well as the exaggerated ideal I envision myself portraying. My personal story involved an extended period of laying low and getting strong—remaining in obscurity until the era of social media provided me the means of distribution to do things my way.
     
    Thanks for the post. It’s my first time here.

  5. jeffespo
    June 12, 2012 | 8:42 am

     @metalmotivation Thanks for stopping in and dropping a comment that has me thinking first thing in the morning :). Stories are vital and a great read on their importance can be found in the Storytelling Animal which was a book I couldn’t put down.In this age of social media, I wonder what kinds of stories the younger generation will be telling and weaving with all of these new technologies. 

  6. metalmotivation
    June 12, 2012 | 9:19 am

     @jeffespo I’m just delighted to hear someone actually cares about the next generation! You have a good point. No doubt, the younger generation is inundated with narratives via film, television, etc, but are there the inspirational narratives—maybe “mythologies”—to help them become more than they are? I think we’ll all be surprised by what the next generation produces.

What’s your story?

What’s your story?

It is probably a phrase that you have heard dozens if not hundreds of times over the course of the past few months. Hell you have probably uttered it to people you’ve met as well.

Happy Hours Story Book by Enid BlytonQuestion is, do you really think about what your story is?

You don’t have to answer that now.

But knowing your story and why others should care is something that everyone participating in social media, blogging or managing a brand’s social presence or community should do.

The social media space continues to fill with more and more clutter each day. You don’t have to be a scientist to know that standing out and gaining valuable mind or eyeball share becomes more difficult each day.

So instead of relying on gimmicks and industry statistics, take a step back, and look at what you are doing.

Individually

  • What makes you stand out?
  • What perspective are you bringing to the table?
  • What value does your story have to the audience?
  • Why should they come back?

For a company

  • What do your customers or stakeholders care about?
  • What content do you offer them?
  • Why should they come back to your website or community?
  • Why should the relationship continue after the purchase?

 

While I could go on with things to think about I won’t. There is no need to get preachy because this is something we all know deep down.

In the past 240 words I have talked about stories and why people should care more but have yet to tell you my story and why you should give two craps about what I have to say, so here goes.

I’m a thirty-something husband father, who worked in sports PR before moving over to do the same thing for Vistaprint, a company that provides marketing materials and solutions to small businesses. I moved over to social media at Vistaprint after getting Stephen Baker’s Beyond Blogs BusinessWeek thrown at me in a team meeting. I started this blog to talk the things I geek out about and draw from life experiences.

So if you’ve read this far; thanks, I appreciate you for checking out this site.

Now to the real question: What is YOUR story?

Image – prettybooks

6 Responses to What’s your story?
  1. AmyVernon
    May 9, 2012 | 10:05 pm

    What’s my story? I’m a 40-something mom of two great boys. Newspaper journalist for 20 years who shifted into social media after being laid off. Got into social while I was still at my last newspaper. Haven’t looked back. I get to write about technology and social media and basically whatever I’m interested in.

  2. jeffespo
    May 10, 2012 | 12:38 pm

     @AmyVernon You forgot the being Queen of Jersy part 🙂

  3. AmyVernon
    May 10, 2012 | 3:46 pm

     @jeffespo  Not queen of Jersey, queen of bacon. 😉

  4. metalmotivation
    June 12, 2012 | 8:07 am

    I agree that story is everything. Unless there is a “narrative” that people can identify with, the individual, company, or service is flat and impersonal. After all, don’t we identify most with the songs that tell our story?
     
    In addition, it is both stories and ideas that inspire (“to fill with ability”). Much like when we were kids returning home from seeing an action movie. For the next couple hours, we became something altogether different. We were inspired to live out the story we’d just seen on film.
     
    All to say, I try to make my story include both the actual narrative of my personal history as well as the exaggerated ideal I envision myself portraying. My personal story involved an extended period of laying low and getting strong—remaining in obscurity until the era of social media provided me the means of distribution to do things my way.
     
    Thanks for the post. It’s my first time here.

  5. jeffespo
    June 12, 2012 | 8:42 am

     @metalmotivation Thanks for stopping in and dropping a comment that has me thinking first thing in the morning :). Stories are vital and a great read on their importance can be found in the Storytelling Animal which was a book I couldn’t put down.In this age of social media, I wonder what kinds of stories the younger generation will be telling and weaving with all of these new technologies. 

  6. metalmotivation
    June 12, 2012 | 9:19 am

     @jeffespo I’m just delighted to hear someone actually cares about the next generation! You have a good point. No doubt, the younger generation is inundated with narratives via film, television, etc, but are there the inspirational narratives—maybe “mythologies”—to help them become more than they are? I think we’ll all be surprised by what the next generation produces.

What’s your story?

What’s your story?

It is probably a phrase that you have heard dozens if not hundreds of times over the course of the past few months. Hell you have probably uttered it to people you’ve met as well.

Happy Hours Story Book by Enid BlytonQuestion is, do you really think about what your story is?

You don’t have to answer that now.

But knowing your story and why others should care is something that everyone participating in social media, blogging or managing a brand’s social presence or community should do.

The social media space continues to fill with more and more clutter each day. You don’t have to be a scientist to know that standing out and gaining valuable mind or eyeball share becomes more difficult each day.

So instead of relying on gimmicks and industry statistics, take a step back, and look at what you are doing.

Individually

  • What makes you stand out?
  • What perspective are you bringing to the table?
  • What value does your story have to the audience?
  • Why should they come back?

For a company

  • What do your customers or stakeholders care about?
  • What content do you offer them?
  • Why should they come back to your website or community?
  • Why should the relationship continue after the purchase?

 

While I could go on with things to think about I won’t. There is no need to get preachy because this is something we all know deep down.

In the past 240 words I have talked about stories and why people should care more but have yet to tell you my story and why you should give two craps about what I have to say, so here goes.

I’m a thirty-something husband father, who worked in sports PR before moving over to do the same thing for Vistaprint, a company that provides marketing materials and solutions to small businesses. I moved over to social media at Vistaprint after getting Stephen Baker’s Beyond Blogs BusinessWeek thrown at me in a team meeting. I started this blog to talk the things I geek out about and draw from life experiences.

So if you’ve read this far; thanks, I appreciate you for checking out this site.

Now to the real question: What is YOUR story?

Image – prettybooks

6 Responses to What’s your story?
  1. AmyVernon
    May 9, 2012 | 10:05 pm

    What’s my story? I’m a 40-something mom of two great boys. Newspaper journalist for 20 years who shifted into social media after being laid off. Got into social while I was still at my last newspaper. Haven’t looked back. I get to write about technology and social media and basically whatever I’m interested in.

  2. jeffespo
    May 10, 2012 | 12:38 pm

     @AmyVernon You forgot the being Queen of Jersy part 🙂

  3. AmyVernon
    May 10, 2012 | 3:46 pm

     @jeffespo  Not queen of Jersey, queen of bacon. 😉

  4. metalmotivation
    June 12, 2012 | 8:07 am

    I agree that story is everything. Unless there is a “narrative” that people can identify with, the individual, company, or service is flat and impersonal. After all, don’t we identify most with the songs that tell our story?
     
    In addition, it is both stories and ideas that inspire (“to fill with ability”). Much like when we were kids returning home from seeing an action movie. For the next couple hours, we became something altogether different. We were inspired to live out the story we’d just seen on film.
     
    All to say, I try to make my story include both the actual narrative of my personal history as well as the exaggerated ideal I envision myself portraying. My personal story involved an extended period of laying low and getting strong—remaining in obscurity until the era of social media provided me the means of distribution to do things my way.
     
    Thanks for the post. It’s my first time here.

  5. jeffespo
    June 12, 2012 | 8:42 am

     @metalmotivation Thanks for stopping in and dropping a comment that has me thinking first thing in the morning :). Stories are vital and a great read on their importance can be found in the Storytelling Animal which was a book I couldn’t put down.In this age of social media, I wonder what kinds of stories the younger generation will be telling and weaving with all of these new technologies. 

  6. metalmotivation
    June 12, 2012 | 9:19 am

     @jeffespo I’m just delighted to hear someone actually cares about the next generation! You have a good point. No doubt, the younger generation is inundated with narratives via film, television, etc, but are there the inspirational narratives—maybe “mythologies”—to help them become more than they are? I think we’ll all be surprised by what the next generation produces.

What’s your story?

What’s your story?

It is probably a phrase that you have heard dozens if not hundreds of times over the course of the past few months. Hell you have probably uttered it to people you’ve met as well.

Happy Hours Story Book by Enid BlytonQuestion is, do you really think about what your story is?

You don’t have to answer that now.

But knowing your story and why others should care is something that everyone participating in social media, blogging or managing a brand’s social presence or community should do.

The social media space continues to fill with more and more clutter each day. You don’t have to be a scientist to know that standing out and gaining valuable mind or eyeball share becomes more difficult each day.

So instead of relying on gimmicks and industry statistics, take a step back, and look at what you are doing.

Individually

  • What makes you stand out?
  • What perspective are you bringing to the table?
  • What value does your story have to the audience?
  • Why should they come back?

For a company

  • What do your customers or stakeholders care about?
  • What content do you offer them?
  • Why should they come back to your website or community?
  • Why should the relationship continue after the purchase?

 

While I could go on with things to think about I won’t. There is no need to get preachy because this is something we all know deep down.

In the past 240 words I have talked about stories and why people should care more but have yet to tell you my story and why you should give two craps about what I have to say, so here goes.

I’m a thirty-something husband father, who worked in sports PR before moving over to do the same thing for Vistaprint, a company that provides marketing materials and solutions to small businesses. I moved over to social media at Vistaprint after getting Stephen Baker’s Beyond Blogs BusinessWeek thrown at me in a team meeting. I started this blog to talk the things I geek out about and draw from life experiences.

So if you’ve read this far; thanks, I appreciate you for checking out this site.

Now to the real question: What is YOUR story?

Image – prettybooks

6 Responses to What’s your story?
  1. AmyVernon
    May 9, 2012 | 10:05 pm

    What’s my story? I’m a 40-something mom of two great boys. Newspaper journalist for 20 years who shifted into social media after being laid off. Got into social while I was still at my last newspaper. Haven’t looked back. I get to write about technology and social media and basically whatever I’m interested in.

  2. jeffespo
    May 10, 2012 | 12:38 pm

     @AmyVernon You forgot the being Queen of Jersy part 🙂

  3. AmyVernon
    May 10, 2012 | 3:46 pm

     @jeffespo  Not queen of Jersey, queen of bacon. 😉

  4. metalmotivation
    June 12, 2012 | 8:07 am

    I agree that story is everything. Unless there is a “narrative” that people can identify with, the individual, company, or service is flat and impersonal. After all, don’t we identify most with the songs that tell our story?
     
    In addition, it is both stories and ideas that inspire (“to fill with ability”). Much like when we were kids returning home from seeing an action movie. For the next couple hours, we became something altogether different. We were inspired to live out the story we’d just seen on film.
     
    All to say, I try to make my story include both the actual narrative of my personal history as well as the exaggerated ideal I envision myself portraying. My personal story involved an extended period of laying low and getting strong—remaining in obscurity until the era of social media provided me the means of distribution to do things my way.
     
    Thanks for the post. It’s my first time here.

  5. jeffespo
    June 12, 2012 | 8:42 am

     @metalmotivation Thanks for stopping in and dropping a comment that has me thinking first thing in the morning :). Stories are vital and a great read on their importance can be found in the Storytelling Animal which was a book I couldn’t put down.In this age of social media, I wonder what kinds of stories the younger generation will be telling and weaving with all of these new technologies. 

  6. metalmotivation
    June 12, 2012 | 9:19 am

     @jeffespo I’m just delighted to hear someone actually cares about the next generation! You have a good point. No doubt, the younger generation is inundated with narratives via film, television, etc, but are there the inspirational narratives—maybe “mythologies”—to help them become more than they are? I think we’ll all be surprised by what the next generation produces.

What’s your story?

What’s your story?

It is probably a phrase that you have heard dozens if not hundreds of times over the course of the past few months. Hell you have probably uttered it to people you’ve met as well.

Happy Hours Story Book by Enid BlytonQuestion is, do you really think about what your story is?

You don’t have to answer that now.

But knowing your story and why others should care is something that everyone participating in social media, blogging or managing a brand’s social presence or community should do.

The social media space continues to fill with more and more clutter each day. You don’t have to be a scientist to know that standing out and gaining valuable mind or eyeball share becomes more difficult each day.

So instead of relying on gimmicks and industry statistics, take a step back, and look at what you are doing.

Individually

  • What makes you stand out?
  • What perspective are you bringing to the table?
  • What value does your story have to the audience?
  • Why should they come back?

For a company

  • What do your customers or stakeholders care about?
  • What content do you offer them?
  • Why should they come back to your website or community?
  • Why should the relationship continue after the purchase?

 

While I could go on with things to think about I won’t. There is no need to get preachy because this is something we all know deep down.

In the past 240 words I have talked about stories and why people should care more but have yet to tell you my story and why you should give two craps about what I have to say, so here goes.

I’m a thirty-something husband father, who worked in sports PR before moving over to do the same thing for Vistaprint, a company that provides marketing materials and solutions to small businesses. I moved over to social media at Vistaprint after getting Stephen Baker’s Beyond Blogs BusinessWeek thrown at me in a team meeting. I started this blog to talk the things I geek out about and draw from life experiences.

So if you’ve read this far; thanks, I appreciate you for checking out this site.

Now to the real question: What is YOUR story?

Image – prettybooks

6 Responses to What’s your story?
  1. AmyVernon
    May 9, 2012 | 10:05 pm

    What’s my story? I’m a 40-something mom of two great boys. Newspaper journalist for 20 years who shifted into social media after being laid off. Got into social while I was still at my last newspaper. Haven’t looked back. I get to write about technology and social media and basically whatever I’m interested in.

  2. jeffespo
    May 10, 2012 | 12:38 pm

     @AmyVernon You forgot the being Queen of Jersy part 🙂

  3. AmyVernon
    May 10, 2012 | 3:46 pm

     @jeffespo  Not queen of Jersey, queen of bacon. 😉

  4. metalmotivation
    June 12, 2012 | 8:07 am

    I agree that story is everything. Unless there is a “narrative” that people can identify with, the individual, company, or service is flat and impersonal. After all, don’t we identify most with the songs that tell our story?
     
    In addition, it is both stories and ideas that inspire (“to fill with ability”). Much like when we were kids returning home from seeing an action movie. For the next couple hours, we became something altogether different. We were inspired to live out the story we’d just seen on film.
     
    All to say, I try to make my story include both the actual narrative of my personal history as well as the exaggerated ideal I envision myself portraying. My personal story involved an extended period of laying low and getting strong—remaining in obscurity until the era of social media provided me the means of distribution to do things my way.
     
    Thanks for the post. It’s my first time here.

  5. jeffespo
    June 12, 2012 | 8:42 am

     @metalmotivation Thanks for stopping in and dropping a comment that has me thinking first thing in the morning :). Stories are vital and a great read on their importance can be found in the Storytelling Animal which was a book I couldn’t put down.In this age of social media, I wonder what kinds of stories the younger generation will be telling and weaving with all of these new technologies. 

  6. metalmotivation
    June 12, 2012 | 9:19 am

     @jeffespo I’m just delighted to hear someone actually cares about the next generation! You have a good point. No doubt, the younger generation is inundated with narratives via film, television, etc, but are there the inspirational narratives—maybe “mythologies”—to help them become more than they are? I think we’ll all be surprised by what the next generation produces.

What’s your story?

What’s your story?

It is probably a phrase that you have heard dozens if not hundreds of times over the course of the past few months. Hell you have probably uttered it to people you’ve met as well.

Happy Hours Story Book by Enid BlytonQuestion is, do you really think about what your story is?

You don’t have to answer that now.

But knowing your story and why others should care is something that everyone participating in social media, blogging or managing a brand’s social presence or community should do.

The social media space continues to fill with more and more clutter each day. You don’t have to be a scientist to know that standing out and gaining valuable mind or eyeball share becomes more difficult each day.

So instead of relying on gimmicks and industry statistics, take a step back, and look at what you are doing.

Individually

  • What makes you stand out?
  • What perspective are you bringing to the table?
  • What value does your story have to the audience?
  • Why should they come back?

For a company

  • What do your customers or stakeholders care about?
  • What content do you offer them?
  • Why should they come back to your website or community?
  • Why should the relationship continue after the purchase?

 

While I could go on with things to think about I won’t. There is no need to get preachy because this is something we all know deep down.

In the past 240 words I have talked about stories and why people should care more but have yet to tell you my story and why you should give two craps about what I have to say, so here goes.

I’m a thirty-something husband father, who worked in sports PR before moving over to do the same thing for Vistaprint, a company that provides marketing materials and solutions to small businesses. I moved over to social media at Vistaprint after getting Stephen Baker’s Beyond Blogs BusinessWeek thrown at me in a team meeting. I started this blog to talk the things I geek out about and draw from life experiences.

So if you’ve read this far; thanks, I appreciate you for checking out this site.

Now to the real question: What is YOUR story?

Image – prettybooks

6 Responses to What’s your story?
  1. AmyVernon
    May 9, 2012 | 10:05 pm

    What’s my story? I’m a 40-something mom of two great boys. Newspaper journalist for 20 years who shifted into social media after being laid off. Got into social while I was still at my last newspaper. Haven’t looked back. I get to write about technology and social media and basically whatever I’m interested in.

  2. jeffespo
    May 10, 2012 | 12:38 pm

     @AmyVernon You forgot the being Queen of Jersy part 🙂

  3. AmyVernon
    May 10, 2012 | 3:46 pm

     @jeffespo  Not queen of Jersey, queen of bacon. 😉

  4. metalmotivation
    June 12, 2012 | 8:07 am

    I agree that story is everything. Unless there is a “narrative” that people can identify with, the individual, company, or service is flat and impersonal. After all, don’t we identify most with the songs that tell our story?
     
    In addition, it is both stories and ideas that inspire (“to fill with ability”). Much like when we were kids returning home from seeing an action movie. For the next couple hours, we became something altogether different. We were inspired to live out the story we’d just seen on film.
     
    All to say, I try to make my story include both the actual narrative of my personal history as well as the exaggerated ideal I envision myself portraying. My personal story involved an extended period of laying low and getting strong—remaining in obscurity until the era of social media provided me the means of distribution to do things my way.
     
    Thanks for the post. It’s my first time here.

  5. jeffespo
    June 12, 2012 | 8:42 am

     @metalmotivation Thanks for stopping in and dropping a comment that has me thinking first thing in the morning :). Stories are vital and a great read on their importance can be found in the Storytelling Animal which was a book I couldn’t put down.In this age of social media, I wonder what kinds of stories the younger generation will be telling and weaving with all of these new technologies. 

  6. metalmotivation
    June 12, 2012 | 9:19 am

     @jeffespo I’m just delighted to hear someone actually cares about the next generation! You have a good point. No doubt, the younger generation is inundated with narratives via film, television, etc, but are there the inspirational narratives—maybe “mythologies”—to help them become more than they are? I think we’ll all be surprised by what the next generation produces.

What’s your story?

What’s your story?

It is probably a phrase that you have heard dozens if not hundreds of times over the course of the past few months. Hell you have probably uttered it to people you’ve met as well.

Happy Hours Story Book by Enid BlytonQuestion is, do you really think about what your story is?

You don’t have to answer that now.

But knowing your story and why others should care is something that everyone participating in social media, blogging or managing a brand’s social presence or community should do.

The social media space continues to fill with more and more clutter each day. You don’t have to be a scientist to know that standing out and gaining valuable mind or eyeball share becomes more difficult each day.

So instead of relying on gimmicks and industry statistics, take a step back, and look at what you are doing.

Individually

  • What makes you stand out?
  • What perspective are you bringing to the table?
  • What value does your story have to the audience?
  • Why should they come back?

For a company

  • What do your customers or stakeholders care about?
  • What content do you offer them?
  • Why should they come back to your website or community?
  • Why should the relationship continue after the purchase?

 

While I could go on with things to think about I won’t. There is no need to get preachy because this is something we all know deep down.

In the past 240 words I have talked about stories and why people should care more but have yet to tell you my story and why you should give two craps about what I have to say, so here goes.

I’m a thirty-something husband father, who worked in sports PR before moving over to do the same thing for Vistaprint, a company that provides marketing materials and solutions to small businesses. I moved over to social media at Vistaprint after getting Stephen Baker’s Beyond Blogs BusinessWeek thrown at me in a team meeting. I started this blog to talk the things I geek out about and draw from life experiences.

So if you’ve read this far; thanks, I appreciate you for checking out this site.

Now to the real question: What is YOUR story?

Image – prettybooks

6 Responses to What’s your story?
  1. AmyVernon
    May 9, 2012 | 10:05 pm

    What’s my story? I’m a 40-something mom of two great boys. Newspaper journalist for 20 years who shifted into social media after being laid off. Got into social while I was still at my last newspaper. Haven’t looked back. I get to write about technology and social media and basically whatever I’m interested in.

  2. jeffespo
    May 10, 2012 | 12:38 pm

     @AmyVernon You forgot the being Queen of Jersy part 🙂

  3. AmyVernon
    May 10, 2012 | 3:46 pm

     @jeffespo  Not queen of Jersey, queen of bacon. 😉

  4. metalmotivation
    June 12, 2012 | 8:07 am

    I agree that story is everything. Unless there is a “narrative” that people can identify with, the individual, company, or service is flat and impersonal. After all, don’t we identify most with the songs that tell our story?
     
    In addition, it is both stories and ideas that inspire (“to fill with ability”). Much like when we were kids returning home from seeing an action movie. For the next couple hours, we became something altogether different. We were inspired to live out the story we’d just seen on film.
     
    All to say, I try to make my story include both the actual narrative of my personal history as well as the exaggerated ideal I envision myself portraying. My personal story involved an extended period of laying low and getting strong—remaining in obscurity until the era of social media provided me the means of distribution to do things my way.
     
    Thanks for the post. It’s my first time here.

  5. jeffespo
    June 12, 2012 | 8:42 am

     @metalmotivation Thanks for stopping in and dropping a comment that has me thinking first thing in the morning :). Stories are vital and a great read on their importance can be found in the Storytelling Animal which was a book I couldn’t put down.In this age of social media, I wonder what kinds of stories the younger generation will be telling and weaving with all of these new technologies. 

  6. metalmotivation
    June 12, 2012 | 9:19 am

     @jeffespo I’m just delighted to hear someone actually cares about the next generation! You have a good point. No doubt, the younger generation is inundated with narratives via film, television, etc, but are there the inspirational narratives—maybe “mythologies”—to help them become more than they are? I think we’ll all be surprised by what the next generation produces.

What’s your story?

What’s your story?

It is probably a phrase that you have heard dozens if not hundreds of times over the course of the past few months. Hell you have probably uttered it to people you’ve met as well.

Happy Hours Story Book by Enid BlytonQuestion is, do you really think about what your story is?

You don’t have to answer that now.

But knowing your story and why others should care is something that everyone participating in social media, blogging or managing a brand’s social presence or community should do.

The social media space continues to fill with more and more clutter each day. You don’t have to be a scientist to know that standing out and gaining valuable mind or eyeball share becomes more difficult each day.

So instead of relying on gimmicks and industry statistics, take a step back, and look at what you are doing.

Individually

  • What makes you stand out?
  • What perspective are you bringing to the table?
  • What value does your story have to the audience?
  • Why should they come back?

For a company

  • What do your customers or stakeholders care about?
  • What content do you offer them?
  • Why should they come back to your website or community?
  • Why should the relationship continue after the purchase?

 

While I could go on with things to think about I won’t. There is no need to get preachy because this is something we all know deep down.

In the past 240 words I have talked about stories and why people should care more but have yet to tell you my story and why you should give two craps about what I have to say, so here goes.

I’m a thirty-something husband father, who worked in sports PR before moving over to do the same thing for Vistaprint, a company that provides marketing materials and solutions to small businesses. I moved over to social media at Vistaprint after getting Stephen Baker’s Beyond Blogs BusinessWeek thrown at me in a team meeting. I started this blog to talk the things I geek out about and draw from life experiences.

So if you’ve read this far; thanks, I appreciate you for checking out this site.

Now to the real question: What is YOUR story?

Image – prettybooks

6 Responses to What’s your story?
  1. AmyVernon
    May 9, 2012 | 10:05 pm

    What’s my story? I’m a 40-something mom of two great boys. Newspaper journalist for 20 years who shifted into social media after being laid off. Got into social while I was still at my last newspaper. Haven’t looked back. I get to write about technology and social media and basically whatever I’m interested in.

  2. jeffespo
    May 10, 2012 | 12:38 pm

     @AmyVernon You forgot the being Queen of Jersy part 🙂

  3. AmyVernon
    May 10, 2012 | 3:46 pm

     @jeffespo  Not queen of Jersey, queen of bacon. 😉

  4. metalmotivation
    June 12, 2012 | 8:07 am

    I agree that story is everything. Unless there is a “narrative” that people can identify with, the individual, company, or service is flat and impersonal. After all, don’t we identify most with the songs that tell our story?
     
    In addition, it is both stories and ideas that inspire (“to fill with ability”). Much like when we were kids returning home from seeing an action movie. For the next couple hours, we became something altogether different. We were inspired to live out the story we’d just seen on film.
     
    All to say, I try to make my story include both the actual narrative of my personal history as well as the exaggerated ideal I envision myself portraying. My personal story involved an extended period of laying low and getting strong—remaining in obscurity until the era of social media provided me the means of distribution to do things my way.
     
    Thanks for the post. It’s my first time here.

  5. jeffespo
    June 12, 2012 | 8:42 am

     @metalmotivation Thanks for stopping in and dropping a comment that has me thinking first thing in the morning :). Stories are vital and a great read on their importance can be found in the Storytelling Animal which was a book I couldn’t put down.In this age of social media, I wonder what kinds of stories the younger generation will be telling and weaving with all of these new technologies. 

  6. metalmotivation
    June 12, 2012 | 9:19 am

     @jeffespo I’m just delighted to hear someone actually cares about the next generation! You have a good point. No doubt, the younger generation is inundated with narratives via film, television, etc, but are there the inspirational narratives—maybe “mythologies”—to help them become more than they are? I think we’ll all be surprised by what the next generation produces.

Google