Like almost everything, StoryMaking didn’t spring into existence from nothing… it has a history and a background…
About me, Dr Simon Raybould, and why my take on using stories in business matters
I started life as a research scientist. I spent 24 years in research and another 20 or so as a trainer and speaker before I created the StoryMaking system. Why? Because business storytelling was such a powerful tool, but misunderstood and at risk of getting a bad press.
As well as more research papers to my name than I can count, I’ve also published three books on presenting and storytelling.
Little big voice book — it’s an oldie now but still used as a primer in voice work for “ordinary people”. Second hand copies go for about £5 so if you you want to sound good as you tell your stories and make your presentations, go for it!
Presentation Genius — officially a best seller on the high street in the general business section! And before you ask, there are very few things as cool as walking through an airport and seeing your book on the top shelves!
Here’s more information
Storymaking — the book most related to business storytelling!
Here’s a bit more information
To this day I have the unique privilege of being given a double-length stage-slot at the Professional Speaking Association of UK & Ireland‘s training conferences and of having two consecutive standing ovations at their national conferences for my work on storytelling.
I also opened Newcastle University’s first TEDx conference, talking about “How to Hear Bad News”… which is very different from telling people it! You can watch the TEDx if you like. It was recorded during the covid lockdowns to an empty auditorium as though it was live, which I have to tell you is a weird experience. If you can count, you’ll notice I burn through 14 mini-stories to tactical effect in just over 12 minutes — applied business storytelling!
I started life as a researcher at universities. My PhD looked at the causes of childhood leukaemia in the environment. After 24 years in research and then as a manager of the UK’ most influential social science research unit (CURDS) I wanted to work more on the dissemination of information than researching new material. I researched what made for good presentations and became a full time presentations and business storytelling trainer. Why? Because the research evidence illustrates that this is just about the best way to get information over so that people take action.
That research background matters to me, ‘cos it grinds my gears to see so-called experts on presenting and storytelling just repeated what worked for them, personally, regardless of whether it’s got a greater validity of anyone else. I read the original research and translate it into stuff you can use, without my ego getting in the way. (I said that with a straight face! 🙂 )
What’s with the parrot logo!?
I call him Sid, after my father, and because it’s a cool name. He came about because of a conversation in a pub. I was explaining to people about posts on LinkedIn just telling people to “tell stories, tell stories”. I commented that it was
- about as helpful as saying to someone with no hair “have you tried being a ginger”?
- like a demented parrot on amphetamines, saying the same thing over and over and over
- missing the next bit – about how to tell them and even why to tell them
Besides, he’s colourful and fun! 😉
Why did I write a book on business storytelling? How did StoryMaking come about?
Two things caught my attention at the same time, and rather than just fume about them I decided to see what I could do about it.
The first is that I saw what felt like every marketer and presentations trainer under the sun saying “tell stories” about business, but without saying anything about how to tell them or even how to find them. That’s about as helpful as saying to someone who can’t reach the top shelf in a supermarket “Be taller”.
I decided to be the box for them to stand on instead.
The second was an another raft of people – this time personal development bods – saying “find your story”. The thing is we aren’t just one story. We’re many stories. I write about in my company blog here. (Don’t panic, it really is on a different website.)
So I decided to show people how to find all the stories in their life…
Who helped create StoryMaking?
Gosh… I can barely remember the names of my own children, so you’re asking a lot here – to remember the names of everyone I’ve spoken to… from neuroscientists to anthropologists… but I’ve bought them all beer (or whisky).
More importantly though, I’m a recovering research scientist. (That’s what I did for 24 years.) That means I try always to go back to the root research papers, not the website summaries about reports about summaries of the research paper. We’re talking a lot of research papers here, from a looooooot of authors, and spread of journals!
What do users think?
Full disclosure? StoryMaking was a hit straight out of the box! This is the feedback for the very first time it went live, at Far North‘s MicroBusinessUnit conference.
Got to admit, these comments are pretty cool, right?
Imagine how much you could benefit from some StoryMaking 🙂
Oh, and there’s a whole raft of testimonials on the homepage, at the bottom! Click here.
I’m so confident that my StoryMaking system will help your business storytelling and your presenting that if you book something with me and don’t think it’s been worthwhile, I’ll not charge you for it.
Pretty cool, eh?
Don’t tell stories.
Use them.
Drop me a line at heroes [at] storymaking [dot] business