The Story Co.’s Top 5 Great Stories of 2021

There are very few things that get all of us at The Story Co. more excited than a great story! With 2021 coming to a close, here’s a quick recap of some of our favourite reads throughout the year…

1. The Go-Giver by Bog Burg

Now, this is not one of your regular “business help books”. 

Having guidance in the form of a story rather than a textbook, not only helped to convey the book’s message… but also showed how well messages can be understood through stories!

The lessons drew on the law of reciprocity, meaning transactions are not all about winning or losing. Instead, we should be seeking to provide more value than we receive.

The “Go-Giver” mindset is one that should be applied at work, at home, with friends, and with strangers… it is a way of life!

2. Culture Code by Daniel Coyle

This is a book I go back to again and again when working with teams who are interested in ramping up their cohesiveness and effectiveness.

Since its writing in 2018, I think his message has only become more important, and I whole heartedly believe in his statement, “Group culture is one of the most powerful forces on the planet.”

Since many of our workplaces have moved to a virtual format, it is so important that we are now focusing on creating an amazing team culture in an online/work from home environment

Through his research in sectors such as creative, hospitality, military (and everything in between), Daniel explores three primary skills:

  • build safety – create an environment where it is ok to provide feedback, regardless of status;
  • share vulnerability – allow for an environment where teams are willing to accept the help and support of others, which in turn, drives trusting cooperation; and,
  • establish purpose – foster an environment of a shared culture that defines the group’s purpose and goals.

3. How to Eat Fudge by Jelena Jerkovic

When a 13-year-old writes a book, it gets my attention!

And when it gets published and you can buy it on Amazon and it is called “How to Eat fudge” –  I buy it!

Jelena Jerkovic is honest, open, and vulnerable in a Brené Brown kind of way.

Wise beyond her 13 years, she is navigating the end of grade 8 and the upcoming unknown of high school.

Fudge is an acronym for: Fear, uncertainty, doubt, guilt, expectations. Her book includes some worksheets, tools, and tips to help you when you slip into F.U.D.G.E.

I know she says it is for kids, and she is a kid…so she should know. But I think fudge is great at all ages! After reading this you might think fudge has never tasted so good!

4. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

This is my all time favourite business memoir. I read it as soon as it came out in 2016.

I have always been a Nike fan right back to university days when the Nike poster of the long distance runner drenched in rain, arms out with the caption “there is no finish line” adorned my residence room at Queen’s. That image spurred on a lot of miles in my waffle trainers.

It is hard to recognize the behemoth of a company that once started in Phil Knight’s trunk. His obsessive passion to find the best shoe for runners was always his fuel.

This is a book of struggle, it is relentless, eccentric, and far from perfect. Phil Knight doggedly pursued building this company, living most of his life in debt.

In this book you are pulled in and along for the ride! When you feel like you hit the turning point, that they have made it as sales hit 40 million… but there is no sigh of relief, he was on the brink of bankruptcy, again.

He goes on to say, “I’d like to share my experience, the ups and downs, so that some young woman or man going through the same trials and ordeals, might be inspired, comforted or warned. Some young entrepreneur, athlete, painter, novelist will press on.”

For Phil Knight there is no finish line, and there is something about that still inspires me (with or without the waffle trainers.)

5. The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek

In The Infinite Game, Simon Sinek talks about an infinite mindset that resonated with me: “no matter how successful we are in life, when we die, none of us will be declared the winner of life. And there is certainly no such thing as winning business.”

You already know that I am attracted to the idea that there is no finish line, Sinek sees winning as a finite game, and compares it to business, where our primary objective is to keep playing. When a game is won it is over. The players go home.

An infinite perspective drives innovation, and if there was ever a silver lining of Covid it is the freedom it brought us to experiment. We had to try something new, nothing was the same, nor will it ever be. We have come to expect surprises and in the process surprised ourselves with brave and resilient attitudes that brought new opportunities.

My twist on the infinite game is that when our purpose is driven by serving others, rather than beating others, we create purpose-driven brands whose positive impact is infinite. The most sustainable way to build a business.

great stories – culture code

This is a book I go back to again and again when working with teams who are interested in ramping up their cohesiveness and effectiveness. Since its writing in 2018, I think his message has only become more important, and I whole heartedly believe in his statement, “Group culture is one of the most powerful forces on the planet.”

Since many of our workplaces have moved to a virtual format, it is so important that we are now focusing on creating an amazing team culture in an online/work from home environment!

Through his research in sectors such as creative, hospitality, military (and everything in between), Daniel explores three primary skills: 1) build safety – create an environment where it is ok to provide feedback, regardless of status; 2) share vulnerability – allow for an environment where team’s are willing to accept the help and support of others, which in turn, drives trusting cooperation; and, 3) establish purpose – foster an environment of a shared culture that defines the group’s purpose and goals.

Infinite Game

I once went to a business strategy session by a consultant I respected. I am always game to learn more about strategy.

The first slide was strong, red and said WIN, yup all in caps!

I was lost on the very first slide. At times likes this I wish I was not so transparent – poker face has always alluded me. My expression of disbelief was running rampant.

I could not buy in.

I looked around wondering if everyone believed that the whole crux of business strategy was to win. I needed so much more. I left disillusioned.

In Simon Sinek’s new book, The Infinite Game, he talks about an infinite mindset that resonated with me: “No matter how successful we are in life, when we die, none of us will be declared the winner of life. And there is certainly no such thing as winning business.”

If you read my comments on Shoe Dog you know that I am attracted to the idea that there is no finish line and Sinek sees winning as a finite game, and compares it to business, where our primary objective is to keep playing. When a game is won it is over. The players go home.

I think this shift in business thinking has been ramped up by our experience with Covid and our drive to want more from our lives, our work, and to understand the impact of our words, thoughts, and lives.

An infinite perspective drives innovation, and if there was ever a silver lining of Covid it is the freedom it brought us to experiment. We had to try something new, nothing was the same, nor will it ever be. We have come to expect surprises and in the process surprised ourselves with brave and resilient attitudes that brought new opportunities.

My twist on the infinite game is that when our purpose is driven by serving others, rather than beating others, we create purpose-driven brands whose positive impact is infinite. The most sustainable way to build a business.

Are you ready to develop your PurposeBrand and have the impact you know you can have? DM me for more information.

Great Stories . How to eat fudge

So when a 13-year-old writes a book it gets my attention!

And when it gets published and you can buy it on Amazon and it is called “How to Eat fudge”–  I buy it!

Jelena Jerkovic is honest, open, and vulnerable in a Brené Brown kind of way.

Wise beyond her 13 years, she is navigating the end of grade 8 and the upcoming unknown of high school.

Fudge is an acronym for: Fear, uncertainty, doubt, guilt, expectations. I love this quote from her book:

Eating fudge means mentally digesting and breaking down the bad feelings and flushing the garbage you don’t need out of your system” She talks about how to feel your feelings and advises “the only way to get out of your knot of feelings is to untie them” (yup she is 13!)

The book includes some worksheets and tools and tips to help you when you slip into F.U.D.G.E and it is all written from her 13-year-old perspective using her own life experience. If you know a 13-year-old this might be perfect summer reading!

I know she says it is for kids, and she is a kid…so she should know.

But I think fudge is good at all ages! After reading this you might think fudge has never tasted so good!

*this is not a paid sponsorship I just like to share good stories. I am also a big fan of her Mom Finka Jerkovic who is my friend, mentor, colleague, collaborator and also the author of Sell From Love!

Be Indispensable

How could I not love a book like Pam Slim’s Body of Work when she says things like “the quality of your life and business, is directly related to the quality of your stories. Tell them well.”

BodyofWork

In fact, I was so intrigued by her philosophy that I signed up for her course to become what she has coined  an “Indispensable”. The idea of seeing your whole life as a body of work was just a brilliant concept and I knew it would fit beautifully into my research and work in personal branding.

And fit it did.

It really validated  why we need to develop  our own personal brands so that we can truly do our genius work.

Pam, is both solid and inspiring and intensely kind. And you know that right after the first few minutes of the first class. In a world of “make a 100k in a month” kind of e-courses her approach was refreshing, real and vital.

You could call it a career handbook for disruptive times but that might be selling it short, or perhaps a career transitions handbook but that too would be selling it short. What she really gets at is – how do you take action and responsibility to keep the passion for the life that you create alive. And that’s powerful stuff.

Her creative process takes you through an in depth look at what matters to you, defining your roots, then you work your way through 3 highly acclaimed personality and strengths finding tests all while you are creating your “Indispensable Plan” and turning on your “winner’s switch” (love that concept). It got me to think deeply and plan clearly. Two of my favourite things 🙂

If I had just bought the book I would have loved it. I would have highlights everywhere and little notes in the margins, pages folded over but likely, I would not have taken the time to really “do” the exercises. The course helped me with the “do” and the community that develops amongst the “indispensables” is supportive and expansive. So now I can join Pam’s many graduates who can say I am an “Indispensable” with an “Indispensable Plan” and I am pretty jazzed about that.(I can also now spell indispensable  without spell check which is just an added bonus)

Many of her words spoke to me but none more so than “We are made to create. We feel useful when we create. We release our ‘stuckness’ when we create. We reinvent our lives, tell new stories, and rebuild communities when we create. We reclaim our esteem, our muse, and our hope when we create.”

And I think that is just a compelling thought to leave you with.

Create how you want to be indispensable by creating a body of work that matters. All you need is you! (And Pam’s book)

*This is an unsolicited review of Pam’s book and her course. Nobody asked me to, or paid me to, I just can’t resist sharing good stuff, good people and inspiring thoughts.

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