Stories Mean Business - Nick Warren

If this resonates for you, reach out to a 'connection', and ask if they fancy a 15-minute chat over a cup of coffee and Zoom. Conversation beats connection.

This week, I'm orientating myself and focusing on my audience and what they want. Episode home: https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/879:-Sprint-6-Audience-and-Offer

Created by Lee Zlotoff, The MacGuyer Secret is a really interesting take on the usual recipe for creativity. That recipe, of course, is research, rest ... boom. I read the book on the train last week ... here's what I think. Episode home: https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/878:-The-MacGuyver-Secret

Why would it make sense to start a book in the middle or at the end? Here's why. Episode home: https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/877:-Reading-Wrong-On-Purpose

I'm off to London again today, and I'm taking a book with me to consume on the train. This is how I'll do it. Episode home: https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/876:-The-Book-On-the-Train

Yesterday, my son had a crucial audition. He's a grown, driven, talented man now, so I didn't say much ... but here's what I did say. Episode home: https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/875:-Being-Yourself

Napoleon landed in France in 1793, four years after the French Revolution had started. He was a penniless artillery lieutenant. Six years later he ruled France. Sometimes its easy to forget that we live in a meritocracy – however flawed – and that the responsibility to move up is ours to take or squander. Episode home: https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/874:-Meritocracy

In 1982, Argentina invaded the Falklands Islands. The invasion was partly triggered by the UK's decision to recall a Royal Navy Ice Patrol Vessel, HMS Endurance, and save $2.5 million. The Argentine generals saw this as evidence that the UK was pulling back from it's commitments, and took their chance. That decision to save $2.5 million eventually cost the UK around $7 billion. It's rarely to see...

In his brilliant book, Ignore Everybody and 39 Other Keys to Creativity, Hugh MacLeod has this to say. Nobody Cares. Do it for yourself. Episode home: https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/872:-This-Might-Not-Work

Yesterday's podcast, and the associated page delivered on Sprint 4, but Sprint 5 will be a little different. Episode home: https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/871:-Sprint-5-Book-Selling

I want to share something with you that's really helped me. It's been the engine behind the podcast. And it's a little weird. This episodes illustrates a completely different kind of  story that means business  ... the daft and dreamlike world of the memory palace. If you are the kind of person who's looking to really understand and integrate the world, this is for you. Every  memor...

When we try new stuff, we make mistakes.  I've been doing that over the past 2-3 episodes and you guys have been the unlucky recipients of gaps, pauses and edits. Such is the price of progress, whatever business we are into. Episode home: https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/869:-Testing-Fallout

As with most of Ricky Gervais' work, Afterlife season 3 is a schizophrenic mix of beautifully observed humanity ... and toilet humour. I loved it and hated it in equal measure. There there are whole scenes (and characters) I'd happily never hear from again, but the point is this... When you are as good at the fundamentals as Ricky Gervais, you open up some serious options to try things out. In thi...

Yesterday, I got the chance to meet and talk to three extraordinary people. Andy McMenemy ran 66 marathons in 66 days. Anne Daniels has led expeditions to the North and South poles. Chris Cook is a double Olympian and Commonwealth Record holder in Breaststroke. And here's the thing ... each of them became extraordinary by focusing on doing the fundamentals REALLY REALLY WELL. Episode home: https:/...

Today, we're circling back to Robert Cialdini's classic work, Influence - and adding the NEW 7th principle from his 2021 new edition. #Reciprocation, #Commitment & #Consistency, #Social Proof, #Liking, #Authority, #Scarcity and #Unity. Episode home: https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/866:-Under-The-Influence

In The Last Of Us, Part 2 , there's a beautiful example of world-building and storytelling ... sketched into a few short lines. ------ I know you're upset... What if we talked like this for a bit? Would that help? I didn't mean to grab you like that. I hope I didn't hurt you. Even mommies are scared sometimes. I'm OK. I'm really scared too. I get how angry you are. I miss him too... but you can't...

Sprint 3 is complete, with the addition of a Speaking page to my website ( https://www.storiesmeanbusiness.com/speaking). Sprint 4 will be something very different, the creation of a Memory Palace style story around a key business framework. Episode home: https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/864:-Sprint-4:-The-Framework

After yesterday's musing on location and creativity, it's only right to loop back to memory. Episode home: https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/863:-The-Other-Thing-About-Location

You can (and should) optimise your day-to-day environment for learning and creativity ... but there's something that you shouldn't ignore. The power of distraction and difference. Episode home: https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/862:-Campervan-and-Creativity

In 1513, Machiavelli presented his 'slim book' to Lorenzo De Medici (the Magnificent). Its lessons have survived the test of time for a reason. Episode home: https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/861:-This-Slim-Book

Had a haircut yesterday, which means a visit to the idea sex shop. Episode home: https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/860:-Idea-Sex-Is-Good

In the 1980s I played a lot of Dungeons & Dragons. It was pretty epic. What started as a little hobby became a huge part of my life ... every weekend spent on a quest ... or creating one for others. I spent huge amounts of time wrapped up in my imagination. And in empathy. At some point during that time, I read an article in White Dwarf magazine about creating realistic worlds. The monsters –...

30 years ago, this month, I learned the difference between learning and growth. Episode home: https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/858:-Learning-Versus-Growth

Update on last week's sprint, and my plan for Week 3. Episode home: https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/857:-Sprint-3-The-Media-Page

If you're good intententions have already started to wain, try this simple technique from James Clear's Atomic Habits. Episode home: https://StoriesMeanBusiness.com/podcast/856:-Habits-Piece-By-Piece