What Stories Are People Telling About You?
Posted January 23, 2007 by Margie Zable Fisher
We tell stories every day (especially those of us who have young children).
But did you also realize that we tell stories that affect other people’s businesses — and we might not even realize we’re doing it?
Here’s an example:
After my Saturday morning Pilates class, my instructor mentioned that she and her husband had taken an out-of-town friend to a local restaurant that was under new management. I asked how the food was now, because in my previous experience it had only been so-so, and expensive as well. Now, with a new owner, the food was “fabulous” my instructor said, and then described a dream dessert — crème brulee cake. That’s all it took for me to suggest to my husband and another couple that we eat there that very night. In truth, that restaurant wasn’t even on my “radar screen,” until the instructor told me her story.
Another example:
During a speech I gave last year to a group of interior designers at the Best Practices Network in Las Vegas, I happened to mention something about David Shepherd, the President of Designing Profits, Inc., who puts these conferences together. I told the group, “The first audio newsletter that David sent me gave me an idea that led to a $36,000 sale. You are all fortunate that David has decided to focus his efforts on helping the interior design industry.”
In fact, I got the idea for this article from a recent audio newsletter that David sent out in which he asks, “What stories are people telling about you?”.
Think about it. Are they talking about all the great work you do for underprivileged kids (like my friend, top photographer Patty Daniels)? Or, are they saying how badly you treat others?
If you’re not sure what stories people are telling about you, ask them. But don’t just ask your friends and satisfied clients. Ask people with whom you might have — or had — a rocky relationship. It’s not easy, but remember, word of mouth P.R. is the most powerful form of P.R. And if you hear something negative, you have the opportunity to change the story.
If you’d like to share a story about you, someone else, or even me, please add a comment to this blog. I’ll share the best stories in an upcoming newsletter.
Yours in Success,
Margie Zable Fisher
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Word-of-mouth advertising is -indeed- powerful. Here’s what I do on a daily basis to ensure people tell things about me that I want them to tell:
1/ I review my personal image. Not only the outside but also my thinking and goals
2/ I realize that everything I believe and think inside will eventually materialize
Then I simple go out and be the person I want to be. Talking to people, interact and play.
Because I am the person who I want to be, I am also doing the things that are congruent with this image. Finally, I know that I will get the results I deserve.
Zig Ziglar would call it the Be-Do-Have principle.
A huge advantage of this is that you don’t have to ‘worry’ about what others think and speak about you… It flows naturally to your advantage.