not A Duff word

This afternoon a lot of us will be off our work game, distracted by the World Cup. There are already loads of great books and blogs out there about what we can learn in business from sport. But perhaps the most profound lesson this World Cup can teach is beautifully illustrated by the story of … Continue reading What this teen can teach you about achieving your dreams

The musician, Sting, understands better than most the importance of narrative. His ‘Message in a Bottle’ song with The Police will be 40 next year. And whilst the original lyrics about loneliness and isolation are perhaps even more relevant in today’s digital world then they were in 1979, I can’t get that song out of … Continue reading Stories that change the world

“The name is Bond, James Bond.” There’s no better example of the power of #storytelling and you don’t need to be in the business of secrets to benefit. To celebrate today’s release of ‘Forever and a Day’ written by Anthony Horowitz, here are (00)7 things the fictional MI6 agent can teach us about the power … Continue reading “The name is Bond, James Bond” – The big business of great storytelling

It’s not enough to have a great idea. In business, what’s important is finding a way to share it in a compelling way. It doesn’t matter what industry or department you work in, if you want your ideas to thrive not dive, you need to become a storyteller. Nobody is born a storyteller – it’s … Continue reading How comics help us become better storytellers and why that’s important to you in business

To celebrate Harry’s and Meghan’s wedding on the 19th I’m sharing 19 canape-sized tips to make you a better public speaker. The thing with speeches is that if you want to succeed you need not just to be able to speak but to say something that connects, holds interest and is remembered. These tips help … Continue reading What this weekend’s wedding can royally teach us about speeches

I not only love writing, I love reading. I can’t imagine my life without being able to tuck into a great story. I’m an active library user, love spending hours in book shops and I’ve already purchased four books this week. That’s not unusual and I’m unapologetic about it. I see books as an investment … Continue reading A quick read – please help