Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Annette Simmons is the author of several books including The Story Factor and Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins. Having read a lot of books about story, I can say that Annette is a leader in this area. That’s why I was excited to chat with her about her work this week on the On Brand podcast.
Enjoy This Episode Now
About Annette Simmons
Annette Simmons is a vibrant keynote speaker, consultant, and author of four books: The Story Factor named one of The 100 Best Business Books of All Time, Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins, A Safe Place for Dangerous Truth (AMACOM, 1998), and Territorial Games: Understanding and Ending Turf Wars at Work.
Annette started with a business degree from Louisiana State University in 1983, spent ten years in Australia in international business, attained an M.Ed. from NC State in 1994, and started Group Process Consulting in 1996. Annette is surprisingly honest, ferrets out hidden opportunities, joyfully takes risks, and tells a good story.
Episode Highlights
A shared story. I began by sharing with Annette that we both have backgrounds in advertising. How did we both get into the business of story? “Advertising is the business of story,” Annette added. “If you like to entertain and influence you end up in advertising and you end up telling stories.”
But that only works for so long. “Advertising felt empty after a while. The work of the team became more interesting to me. It’s the story that everyone tells themselves that drives the behaviors of the group.”
The practice of storytelling. I asked Annette about her two books on story — The Story Factor and Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins — and how they fit together. “I’m a practitioner. I only write about what I’ve tried and what works with groups.”
What brand has made Annette smile recently? “I love gardening,” Annette shared. “The nursery just outside of town—they are just magic.”
To learn more, check out Annette’s website, and feel free to reach out via email (which she shared during the podcast).
As We Wrap …
- Listen and subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon/Audible, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, iHeart, YouTube, and RSS.
- Rate and review the show—If you like what you’re hearing, be sure to head over to Apple Podcasts and click the 5-star button to rate the show. And, if you have a few extra seconds, write a couple of sentences and submit a review to help others find the show.
- Did you hear something you liked on this episode or another? Do you have a question you’d like our guests to answer? Let me know on Twitter using the hashtag #OnBrandPodcast and you may just hear your thoughts here on the show.
- On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network.
Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet!