What, Why & How Story Matters

My newest essay, What, Why & How Story Matters, is now posted at PhilanTopic. If you are interested in hearing and sharing stories from your donors, board members, colleagues, and clients, you will learn vital tips for recognizing and eliciting real stories.

It begins:

I fear the term "story" is being used so broadly as to render it meaningless.

Messages are not stories. Statements of belief and opinions are not stories. And, most of the time, answers to direct questions are not stories.

Many well-intentioned professionals are rushing out and thinking they are asking for stories, when they are not. What gets shared as a result of their efforts is often called story, even when it is not.

Click here to read the full post.