When my nieces and nephews ask me to “Read them a story.” and then hand me a book that they’ve heard a thousand times, I like to make up a new one based on the general premise of the book. It’s usually met with delight.
Storytelling was used for centuries to pass along history before paper, pens, typewriters and MacBookPros were invented. Even with all of these modern devices I’m continually amazed how many credit union people I come across that don’t know the story of how their financial co-op came to be.
Now more than ever we need to tell our story. And not in the sing-songy-heard-it-a-million-times “We’re a not for profit financial institution owned and operated by our members…..”
Tell it a new way. How about starting with this phrase…..“After the great depression……”
Story telling is different than a slogan or a tag line. Brent Dixon had a great post recently that talked about the ingredients of a great story.
This morning I took this photo. I’m staying at the Residence Inn near the Portland Airport. When I went downstairs to get my morning coffee at 6:00 am I saw this pile of stuff outside the door of Room 217. There’s a story here…..Go!
The 2020 Vision of Marketing 
10 comments
Comments feed for this article
October 29, 2009 at 5:46 am
dena
I will perhaps make a cheerful little comic strip ;). First, I need to know WTH that is to the left of the glasses! A single sheet of hotel stationery?
October 29, 2009 at 5:49 am
Denise Wymore
Dena,
That’s the folio his room key is in……To the right is his luggage tag (PDX is the airport code for Portland). A glass of red wine AND a diet pepsi can (wine full, can empty), oh and a business card from the hotel manager!
October 29, 2009 at 7:12 am
Credit Union Warrior
Jim Stevenson has worked for Waste Management’s southeastern division since 1984. Passionate about his work, Jim has always been the go to guy when the company needed to excite a major corporate prospect about its recycling and trash removal services.
It was no surprise, then, when Jim was asked to fly out of his district to help northeastern division sales director Brent Zuchswardt pitch to fifth largest employer in the state, Hewlett-Packard. Five hours later, like he had dependably done so many times before for colleagues, Jim was on board a plane en route to saving the day.
Brent met Jim just outside the security line at the Portland airport. Brent, a tall and abnormally thin man who looked much younger than his 53 years of age, looked relieved when Jim reached out his hand for a greeting.
“Just in the nick of time, eh?” Jim laughed.
“You have no idea, Jim,” Brent exhaled. “HP decided that creating ‘green’ products must be paired with ‘green’ operations.”
“Sounds like a perfect opportunity for us, then,” Jim smirked. “I’m guessing you told them about our 3R + 1 environmental program?”
“Oh, definitely. That’s why they’re interested.” Brent confirmed, kindly offering to carry Jim’s briefcase with a subtle hand gesture.
“Oh, thanks, Brent. That was getting heavy.”
The two men scurried through the crowds of travelers to hail a taxi from the ground transportation area outside ticketing. Within seconds, a car pulled up to the curb where Jim and Brent were standing.
“Where to?” the driver asked.
“Residence Inn, RiverPlace.” Brent said, placing Jim’s briefcase in the car next to him.
“So what’s the problem? Seems like a slam dunk sale to me,” questioned Jim. “Make your pitch, and write up a contract.”
“It’s not that easy,” Brent insisted. “The ‘entire’ proposal must be ‘green.’ They repeated it three times. They said ‘we want every aspect of your proposal to be environmentally-conscious and sustainable.”
“You flew me in a Boeing 747 from Charlotte, North Carolina to Portland, Oregon to make an environmentally-conscious and sustainable pitch…and you’re telling me this in a 1995 Buick LeSabre taxi cab?” asked an exasperated Jim.
“Probably not the best call, I’m guessing?” Brent said as the color raced from his face.
“No.”
The men checked into the Residence Inn and quickly convened in Brent’s room. Jim looked at Brent for a moment. Sighed. Looked at the telephone. Sighed again.
“First thing you’re going to do is call HP and let them know that in the interest of limited carbon emissions, you have set-up a live web-conference in lieu of a face-to-face meeting.” Jim said decisively, turning his attention quickly to Brent’s laptop. “You have a web cam on this thing, don’t you?”
Brent hesitated, “I think so. I mean, there’s supposed to be.”
“Good. Call HP, and gather up all of this crap in here.” Jim ordered. “The audience is going to be able to see behind you, so I don’t want anything that isn’t made out of 100% post-consumer waste showing up.”
“Where should I put this stuff?” Brent asked sheepishly.
“Like it matters!” Jim screeched. “In the toilet, under the bed…throw it outside for all I care.”
“Fine…then what?” asked Brent.
“Lose the glasses – they make you look weak.” Jim said.
“Weak? My wife says they make me look smart.”
“Your wife WANTS you to look smart.” Jim retorted. “You’ve failed miserably.”
Now let’s plan this presentation…
October 29, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Denise Wymore
@CUWarrior – did he make the sale??? I’m dying to know….
October 29, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Credit Union Warrior/Matt Davis
That’s all I have, Denise… Choose your own adventure. 🙂
October 29, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Kelley Parks
It was October 29th 2010 and banking executives were high-fiving each other after a long day of scheming to stick it to the Little Guy. Upon returning to their hotel, one picked up the USA Today. After reading the headline, “Finally Banking Crisis Solved: Everyone Joins A Credit Union” they all spontaneously combusted and were sent to Dante’s newest 8th layer of hell specifically designed for the greedy and heartless.
Meanwhile, Dense Wymore, Secret Agent of Cultivation, had been sent on assignment into the future to take picture of the scene and post it as evidence there is hope for credit union budgets everywhere.
And the Little People of the world lived happily ever after.
The End.
October 30, 2009 at 6:07 am
Credit Union Warrior
Ha! Kelley just called you Dense Wymore. Can’t we all just get along! 🙂
October 30, 2009 at 6:36 am
Denise Wymore
HA!! I do that to my name all the time – either that or Demise instead of Denise……..mwaaahhhh haaaaahhhh haaahhhhhhhh!!!
October 30, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Kelley Parks
ha! Matt – this is becoming routine now that you catch my spelling errors! My apologies, Denise. Although I like your mispelling. Demise makes a great superhero name. I think you should roll with that.
October 31, 2009 at 9:14 am
Roger Conant
I love this! Don Hewitt, creator of 60 Minutes, build a program that might just last forever based on one premise…tell me a story! Great post!