The back stories on storytelling.
- From Familiar to Foreignby mikeswelshYou’ll learn how to challenge your own approaches. This can apply to how you do your work, tell stories, and execute. When designing experiences for human… Read more: From Familiar to Foreign
- The Back Story on Storytelling 🦄by mikeswelshAll humans, including you, are storytellers by definition. Even if you believe you aren’t good at [public speaking, talking to strangers, presenting, pitching, etc.], you are… Read more: The Back Story on Storytelling 🦄
- Dialoging for Diamondsby mikeswelshWhen it’s time to tell a story, pitch an idea, or have a memorable conversation ion this is one of those tools/techniques. Narrative diamonds shape clear,… Read more: Dialoging for Diamonds
- Storytelling is life. And work.by mikeswelshBetter Conversations, Better Conversions: The Art & Science of (Financial) Storytelling The gold standard for human interactions is the power of curiosity, understanding, questions, metaphorical thinking,… Read more: Storytelling is life. And work.
- The Moth StorySLAMby mikeswelshSo that one time I did a Storyslam competition, that a colleague put me up to. I had no idea what it even was, just that… Read more: The Moth StorySLAM
- 3 is more than magic.by mikeswelshUsing numbers, you can build the best story, pitch, or presentation or be more precise at parties. Specifically 3 and 5. There is no perfect formula… Read more: 3 is more than magic.
- 2016 October 31by mikeswelshI wrote a eulogy for my Father. It was read at St Dominick’s Church on Halloween in 2016. I added photos and some captions. To My… Read more: 2016 October 31
- Underestimators, Overestimators, & The feel for the ‘game.’by mikeswelshThis post will outline what I learned from spending 11 years and three months in a startup that became a small business, then a mid-size business,… Read more: Underestimators, Overestimators, & The feel for the ‘game.’
- Broadcasting & Narrowcastingby mikeswelshThis is a slight pitch prep, storytelling, narrative builds versus slideware. What is the BC/NC all about? Historically, when we are ‘trained’ to present or media… Read more: Broadcasting & Narrowcasting
- Truman Biographyby mikeswelshExcellent book but super long listen. A quick summary does not do justice to the level of detail and visualization while listening was great. I listened… Read more: Truman Biography
- Expansive Ignorance™by mikeswelshThis is tangent from a previous post about curiosity. Applying “Expansive Ignorance” to Daily Tasks The concept of “Expansive Ignorance” can be a powerful tool to… Read more: Expansive Ignorance™
- On being curious to get sht done.by mikeswelsh“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the… Read more: On being curious to get sht done.
- “He works for us”by mikeswelshMay 1, 2024 Mid- ‘ double the company days’ as a Mobster, I realized in a dark moment during one or more of my work travel… Read more: “He works for us”
- Arcs (of Uncertainty™)by mikeswelshThere are many arcs, some called story arcs, arcs of uncertainty, and more. Sometimes, they are not arcs at all. They are lines of thinking. Ways of making an audience follow along, stay interested, and be entertained.
- Curveball Questionsby mikeswelshDo you know that time during a meeting, workshop, interview, or other interaction when a question comes up that catches you off guard and/or disrupts the… Read more: Curveball Questions
- Repetition With Variationby mikeswelsh#Tuesday, this concept is one of those old chestnuts I use to help teammates, clients, and anyone trying to manage or collaborate with any design form.… Read more: Repetition With Variation
- Last time First timeby mikeswelshA quick take on your #TGIF as I roll across the country in my seemingly neverending desire to be out of my comfort zone, continually having to cope… Read more: Last time First time
- The Magic Wandby mikeswelshFirst, do you know when you are decking your way through a meeting with too many cooks, non-combatants, and ‘talkers’ rather than ‘contributors’? You know them;… Read more: The Magic Wand
- The 5 Slide Rule™by mikeswelshThe 5 Slide Rule™ (of thumb) for planning and over-prepping for storytelling success. This is a people, process, and tools article to help anyone who needs… Read more: The 5 Slide Rule™
- Macro to micro viewsby mikeswelshPaint a picture. Zoom in and out. 30,000 feet down to street view and back. Come with me; this is a story. Some of what folks… Read more: Macro to micro views
- Strategic Benign Neglectby mikeswelshSBN (Strategic Benign Neglect) is one of the most potent techniques in life, not just in presentations and meetings. The idea is simple and powerful. Do… Read more: Strategic Benign Neglect
- Poise, Presence, Postureby mikeswelshThe three ‘Ps’ can be even more challenging for folks than the content development inside the 5 Slide Rule™ rubric. As in other posts, I will attempt to break down these concepts and how they work for me as I develop a presentation process as a coping mechanism to deal with my own agoraphobia issues.
- Who are you talking to?by mikeswelshWho are you talking to? Sounds tense. In the world of the Five Slide Rule™ discipline, another deeply powerful practice is understanding the human (book slide), but even more fundamental is where is the human(s) in the audience.
- How much time do you have?by mikeswelshHow much time do you have?
- Why have slides at all?by mikeswelshWhy have slides at all, especially on Monday after a Super Bowl, bolsters this idea? One of the premises of the 5 Slide Rule™ (of thumb) is first to ask if you need any slides; that does not mean you don’t need content. I wouldn’t say I like slides. NASA even attributed PowerPoint contributed to a shuttle disaster. PowerPoint kills.
- The Book Slideby mikeswelshWhat it is, Why is it 2008, I faced a life-changing event and asked my dad for advice. He suggested keeping myself busy and focused by… Read more: The Book Slide
- Takeawaysby mikeswelshReflecting on personal mistakes and lessons learned, the writer acknowledges their initial hubris, arrogance, and lack of humility. Admitting ignorance led to continuous learning, while dependence on team collaboration resulted in leadership growth. Emphasizing humility, they advocate for the power of asking “How can I help?” to foster successful outcomes and team responsibility. (ai generated this excerpt)
- My five questions to understand and learn.by mikeswelshThese five questions, designed to understand how humans think, behave, and operate in the world, can be utilized in interviews or other interactions. The sequencing and follow-ups of these questions provide valuable insights into fear, our perceptions of concepts, the best and worst parts of our jobs, alignment with roles, and essential actions for companies. By engaging in dialogue, we can foster meaningful connections and reduce interview anxiety.
- My mom made me a storyteller. My dad fixed/forced me out of any comfort zone.by mikeswelshMy mother said I had the gift of gab. I was a chatty child, and in a large family getting a word in edge-wise was hard.… Read more: My mom made me a storyteller. My dad fixed/forced me out of any comfort zone.










