The Book Autograph Session That Didn’t Happen

I had gone to Literary Fest on Chicago’s Printer’s Row before, but this time I was actually going to sign autographs for Today’s Inspired Leader! And my boys were coming. And I even chose an author-y style hat to wear, plus my Italian wedges and an Army green, Eddie Bauer skirt I hadn’t worn in 20 years (a nod to my optimism about what’s in my closet).

One of a dozen authors, my chapter is called “Share One Beautifully Tragic Story Every Day.” The words you are reading are proof I take my own advice. Because this story is both beautiful and tragic.

The Kelly tribe hopped in the car and off we went a few Saturdays ago to a crowd of people who loved books as much as we did. Our traditional Dunkin’ stop for hash browns and donuts. Check. We were feelin’ the love. I had my autograph line down. (That’s what authors do — they come up with a cute line and then sign their name — not that I would know after what happened when we got there.)

Here, the story throws a zinger at the storyteller. There’s this thing we all do every day. It’s called filling in the story gap. You probably did it already today. Maybe dozens of times. You see something, you hear something and you don’t know the entire story so your mind fills in the missing pieces.

Like I filled in the story gap for my autograph session. I assumed the publisher would bring the books. Not so. I was supposed to bring my box (God bless Fig Factor Media - they had sent an email I didn’t fully read fully explaining this).

I even found the tent I was supposed to be at which, if you know me, was a major feat. (I once drove to Elmhurst and ended up in Englewood. Ooops.)

I was a writer with an autograph line and no books to scrawl it on. My son Patrick rode side saddle to my dumbfoundedness (you know you’ve reached this state when you are repeating the words someone else is saying with a glazed look of disbelief on your face and excitement comes tumbling down inside you like a carefully stacked tower of laundry on the ironing board and the satiny PJs on the bottom makes everything jump ship). Yeah, that was me.

No cute autograph line? Wait. I had a book in the car! I hurriedly dug out my cell phone in my Coach purse (lucky me, I have a sister-in-law who was downsizing in the purse department; authors must have Coach), and I called my husband and business partner and said, “Grab the book from the car. I can sign at least one book today.”

Crickets.

Then I knew what was coming and my five-year-old self said, “You’ve got to be flippin’ kidding me.”

More crickets.

“You took the book out of the car yesterday? How could you do that?”

Even the crickets left the conversation.

“We’ve had gym shoes in there since 2007. There’s a Borders gift card in the glove compartment.”

It was over.

I pressed my finger through the phone and thought for a moment, which is something Italians don’t often do in the face of unforeseen circumstances.

They say things happen for a reason. I’m a card-carrying believer.

Me to Self: I have my sons. My husband. My hat. I’m going to take a fake autograph shot because this may never happen again and then I’m going to enjoy Lit Fest with the men in my life.

And that’s exactly what happened.

And it was awesome! You learn a lot about a person by the books they choose. Patrick is hungry to understand why our country was divided in the Civil War so he bought several on the subject. Maybe it will help him, a natural peacemaker, understand the division we see today and how to close the gap. Stephen King novels captivated Peter who vowed to get a few from the library. A jazz pianist who plays hours at a time by ear, I loved seeing this young man be delighted by creative fiction.

As for the autograph session that didn’t happen, I’m good with it. The notes and texts I write to my children are good enough for me.

For the record, though, next year, I’m putting the books next to my Italian heels by the door. And my Audrey Hepburn sunglasses. Because, of course, that’s what authors wear.

At least that’s the story gap I’ve filled in.

 Michele Kelly is founder and CEO of K+L Storytellers.

Bringing Storytelling to the Classroom

How do you get people to tell their stories? That was the first question a student asked as I showed the importance of #storytelling to two communications classes at Aurora University.

I pulled out our K+L Storytellers signature multi-colored beach ball, had the students stand up and I asked a single question. What is something about you that nobody here knows? I tossed the beach ball to the first student, who ducked allowing the ball to bounce off the unprepared student behind him. (That’s why we use a beach ball instead of a baseball.)

Speaking to a communications class at Aurora University about the importance of storytelling in business.

Around the room the beach ball flew to the next storyteller. One young student has lived on her own since she was 17. Another collected exotic animals, including an alligator. A third has traveled to more than 20 countries.

The final catcher of the beach ball was instructor Franklin Rivera, who led 44 men into battle upon his graduation from West Point and is also related to former Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell.

In the second class, students were asked about their No. 1 obsession. The responses ranged from music to cars to sports to fluffy cats.

The exercise was fun, and it especially kept the 8 a.m. class awake. Asking questions leads to storytelling. And by continuing the line of questioning, we began to understand each person’s unique story.

K+L Storytellers takes a similar approach with middle market, culture-driven companies that want to better understand and project their stories, both internally to improve culture, and externally to increase brand awareness.

Like many college students, companies have short-term goals and long-term vision. Sharing stories with emotion and authority provides a trust with the audience, which is a foundation for increasing sales.

Spinning a few Dad jokes aside, what was some of the feedback of our classroom experience?

·         Ebony Scott, a junior marketing major, said marketing professionals “have a responsibility to depict clients in the way they want to be represented and how they would want their stories to be told.”

·        Senior Dirk Schoger.said, “Your lecture on storytelling was interesting and informative. The material and the stories you had to share with the class were very engaging, which is proof of the effectiveness of a good story.”

Nice to know our future storytellers are poised and ready to bring their stories to the world.

Hiding in Plain Sight a True Art Form

What if we had only three ways to communicate with each other?

·         Writing a letter and sending it via the United States Postal Service to a business or residence

·         In-person visit at home or at work

·         Calling a business or residence on a land line telephone

In the first three decades of my life, these were the only methods of “getting a hold” of someone. And they were effective because each method nearly always elicited a response.

Today, we can reach someone instantly. Multiple applications provide a direct pipeline to your mobile device, tablet or personal computer. Besides email and texting, we’ve got Uber Conferencing (they have a great hold song if you haven't heard it), Facetime, Skype, Slack, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, SnapChat, and LinkedIn. Leaving a voicemail is almost shocking to the system (it requires a lot of energy and time to hit “play”). An article in Psychology Today cites that inboxes are one of the most common triggers to social anxiety and productivity-related anxiety.

It’s easy to see why we all want to run from the mayhem.

Hiding in Plain Sight

There’s no place to hide, so we’ve become creative to avoid being reached. We hide in plain sight.

Phone numbers and physical addresses of business are disappearing from websites and business cards. Instead, we leave a note and send it off into the web abyss and cross our fingers that it will reach the right person AND they will be kind enough to respond.

When a phone number we don't recognize pops up, we watch our phones do the dance. We need “approval” from someone to connect on LinkedIn and other social platforms and, oftentimes, contact information is buried or nonexistent on profiles.

But the No. 1 way we hide is by ignoring the call, text, letter, email, IM, social request, etc. altogether. We simply do not respond. That fact has nothing to do with technology. That fact has to do with people making a choice.

While we haven't done a formal survey on this, we sure have heard people talk about this phenomenon that, with all the ways in which we can communicate, it is getting harder and harder to elicit a response. Is that the story a company wants to convey? How is responsiveness a reflection of a company’s brand?

What are some of your experiences with unresponsive responses?

K+L Story Minute

Impact Brands: 3 Stories to Snack On →

By Roderick Kelly

Co-founder, K+L Storytellers

I recently walked the Sweets & Snacks Expo in Chicago, trying the many varieties of beef jerky, hot pickles and health bars. Yes, health bars. I could hear my wife Michele whisper in my ear from 40 miles away: “Pass on the beef jerky and eat healthier.” And so I did. Well, kind of. LOL.

As I sauntered the aisles and talked to people, I came across three companies that really impressed me because of their impact brand stories.

Story #1: Kiwa

This Ecuadorian-based manufacturer of premium vegetable chips has a great story about working directly with regional farmers to provide them with an improved way of life.

Kiwa sales manager Maria Jose Guillen.

Through its direct trade with farmers, Kiwa provides self-sustaining economic success to small, impoverished farmers, many of whom farm unique vegetables that are only native to South America. “We work with development organizations to help farmers get out of poverty,” said Maria Jose Guillen, sales manager for Kiwa, whose chips can be found in more than 30 countries. In the Chicago area, the many variety of chips many varieties of chips include plantain, beetroot, cassava and native potatoes share shelf space with more recognizably-named chips at Mariano’s and Pete’s Fresh Markets.

“Think about the many men and women working in remote fields and villages, left behind and oftentimes forgotten by a world that continues to move faster and faster. We proudly connect small farmers in Ecuador and Peru with world markets. Every time someone enjoys a Kiwa product, the collective heart of humanity beats a little louder,” says Kiwa co-founder Martin Acosta. That’s impressive, and the chips are delicious. Never thought I’d eat a beetroot chip. (Full disclosure: Kiwa is a client of K+L Storytellers).

 Story #2: This Bar Saves Lives

Emily Baker, social media and retail marketing specialist.

If this company name doesn’t scream: “Listen to my story,” I’m not sure what does. And listen I did. With each bar sold, this Los Angeles-based company provides a portion of the proceeds to nutrient packets, which are delivered to malnourished children around the world.

“Every time you buy a bar, we give life-saving nutrition to a child in need. We eat together,” is the company’s mantra said Emily Baker, social media and retail marketing specialist for the company. This Bar Saves Lives has provided millions of nutrient packets saving thousands of children around the globe, she said.

That’s a feel good for everyone.

Story #3: Fresh Toys

At first glance, I thought Fresh Toys was like a McDonald’s Happy Meal. Inside each box of gummy candies, there is a miniature toy from one of eight collection themes: fairies, pirates, ponies, kitties, puppies, warships, ivy schools and homes. The packages and toys are all designed by 20 young moms and dads whose intent it is to “make kids smile, and give a boost to their imagination, good heartedness and happiness,” according to co-founder Alex Polanski.

Being a creative myself, I marveled at how the company’s goal is to have children use these toys to create stories and to fantasize, much like our generation did by playing with green plastic US Army men or doll houses with miniature rooms and furniture. “Our ultimate mission is to provide affordable, safe, and fun novelty toys. And that’s what we do," according to Polanski.

Even the company’s title focuses on the toys rather than the candy. Founded in Europe, the company has only recently distributed in the United States, although to find them in stores, you will have to travel to Pennsylvania or Wyoming until distribution ramps up.

 Great stories, cool products and impactful brands. Now, where did I put my stash of beef jerky?

The Power of 3 in Storytelling

By Roderick Kelly

Co-founder, K+L Storytellers

Today is St. Patrick’s Day and a happy day it is.

The Chicago River is emerald, revelers dress as leprechauns and strangers are toasting each other with pints of Guinness.

It’s a fun day. Heck, March is a happy month.

We have March Madness, spring break and tax refunds. March signals the end of winter, a time for new life and the moment students can touch their graduation day.

March is the third month and all good things come in threes.

Storytellers, speakers and comics have known this for years and use the Rule of Three to produce vibrant, fun and memorable stories like The Three Little Pigs.

Here are some examples of the Rule of Three:

·         Hip, hip, hooray – a common cheer

·         Vidi, vini, vici -- Latin for I came, I saw, I conquered

·         Stop, drop and roll -- a fire safety slogan

·         Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness -- from the US Declaration of Independence

·         Faster, higher, stronger -- the Olympic motto

·         An Englishman, a Scotsman and an Irishman walk into a pub……..

Now you know one of the great secrets of storytelling. The Rule of Three is used on corporate websites, in marketing materials and in advertising because it's simple, catchy and rhythmic.

Slãinte.