Stories That Stick: How Storytelling Can Captivate Customers, Influence Audiences, and Transform Your Business

"Stories That Stick" by Kindra Hall is a revelation for anyone seeking to enhance their storytelling skills. Hall's storytelling framework is easy to grasp and exceptionally effective in captivating audiences. As a communications and marketing professional, I found myself engrossed in the book from start to finish, eager to absorb the wisdom shared by the author. One of the key strengths of this book is its practicality. Hall doesn't just delve into the theory of storytelling; she provides a hands-on approach that allows readers to apply the principles to their own narratives immediately. The step-by-step guidance is clear and actionable, making the art of storytelling accessible to individuals at any skill level. What sets "Stories That Stick" apart is Hall's ability to blend personal anecdotes with insightful analysis seamlessly. Her own journey as a storyteller adds a layer of authenticity to the book, making it relatable and inspiring. The anecdotes are powerful illustrations of the principles discussed, making it easier for readers to connect and internalize the concepts. Furthermore, the book explores the versatility of storytelling in various aspects of life, from professional presentations to personal interactions. Hall illustrates how stories have the power to create lasting impressions, drive engagement, and, ultimately, leave a profound impact. Whether you're a seasoned storyteller looking to refine your craft or a beginner seeking guidance, "Stories That Stick" is a must-read. It not only equips you with the tools to craft compelling narratives but also instills a deep appreciation for the art of storytelling. Kindra Hall has undoubtedly created a masterpiece that will resonate with readers and transform how they communicate. Highly recommended! #rollcobbs

(I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book from Harper Collins leadership for review) This quote from Stories That Stick sums up my deep reverence for the power of stories perfectly: “The shift a story can make has a profound impact on business. It turns customers into converts. It transforms employees into evangelists. Executives into leaders. It changes the nature and impact of marketing, and perhaps most importantly, it can change how we see ourselves.” I would add that, on top of a story being able to change how we see ourselves, it can also profoundly change and shift the way we see others. After devouring this incredibly generous book and taking the time to simmer on Kindra Hall's every word, I can truthfully say that Stories That Stick has changed the way I see the world. I know that sounds dramatic but it's true. Not only did this book give me the practical tools and resources to find, choose, craft and tell my own stories but, in doing so, it unexpectedly gave me a whole new vantage point by which to see and understand the stories of others. It's as if I have a pair of those awkward virtual reality goggles on at all times that layers the "Normal-Explosion-New Normal" framework over everything in front of me. So, instead of passively taking things as they are, I now find myself asking things like, "Hmm, what's their story?" or "I wonder what the story is behind this or that". (Extra Bonus: With my newfound curiosity, I also find myself far more patient and appreciative of the constant onslaught of "Why?" from my 6 and 7 year olds!) I read a ton of business books and can honestly say that Stories That Stick easily ranks as one of the best of the best. I have fifteen pages of typed notes to vouch for me! Bottom line, for anyone tasked with bridging the gap in value, talent, culture or beliefs, this book is a tremendous resource that oozes Kindra's depth and experience as a master storyteller. Her joyful and vividly written insights simplify and demystify the art of storytelling, provide a framework for "building bridges that last" and serve as a call to action to anyone looking to create a transformative shift in their lives or the lives of others. In Kindra's words, "Tell your stories first, otherwise someone might tell them for you, and you may not like their version." Happy reading!

A little over a year ago I had the pleasure of seeing Kendra Hall on stage at a customer service event. She was a keynote speaker and her topic was on “storytelling.“ She was by far, the most compelling audience-grabbing speaker of the day (as well as a sassy dresser!). I decided to start stalking, I mean, following her on Instagram immediately. She was a very active poster of stories and pictures on Instagram. I felt like I was living vicariously through her and we were becoming virtual one-way BFFs as she walked the streets of New York City. She shared the excitement of wonder the mystery man created from outside their window who played loud music from his parked car while getting coffee. We had a celebrity sighting that was quite exciting. I felt a little jetlagged as she zipped across the country from Keynote to Keynote, but damn, was she the best story teller ever as she kept us all in the loop of what she was up too. I remember the day she revealed she was publishing a book about storytelling and I stood ready to be one of the first in line to pre-order her book on Amazon. Shortly after I pre-ordered her boom, I received an unexpected email from Kendra which included a video thanking me for my purchase…Who does that?! An author who cares about her audience and the experience she creates for her audience. Which is her secret elixir!! She captivates you word by word, sentence by sentence, paragraph by paragraph, chapter by chapter, in her new kick ass book, Stories That Stick. Not only did I pre-order the book in hardcopy, I pre-ordered the book in Audible… And within a week of its release I had listened to every single word written and spoken by none other than Kendra herself. Not only is her book engaging in a way only a storyteller can tell, it’s filled with practical tips and tools anyone of us can master. If you’ve ever been captivated by an amazing story, Kendra can give you the formula to create them for yourself. Quite simply, she’s a master of her craft. Don’t pass go or collect $200.. go by the freakin book and follow her on Instagram! But remember, she was my virtual one-way BFF first!!

I learned from this book how important stories are useful in not only your professional life but in the life of an organization. It’s in the details, which often enough we don’t focus on. We focus on profitability, employee retainment, customer retainment, but do we forget the story? So from this perspective, it’s a little ‘ah ha!’ Moment. Now as far as meat, there were a few crumbs in there, but not enough for an entire book. I was determined to finish the book, which I did, but felt like the concepts presented could have been done in one chapter and I was severely wasting my time. Ideally, this information would be better delivered in a 10 minute Ted Talk. I’m giving this a 4. It’s in no way a 5. I’m not giving it a 3 because I do not think this topic could go very far beyond the obvious. 4 for effort.

The book arrived quickly and in great shape!

I love stories and storytelling. As a coach, I have struggled to get my message across to those I am seeking to help. At my last live event (I have done 6 this year), I took Kindra's framework and developed a founder story and a value story and by far it was the most powerful part of my presentation. This is the missing piece of my marketing. I now have unlocked my vault of stories to get my "message" across. If you own a business, work in marketing or any medium where you are communicating a message, you need to get this book, read it cover to cover, read it again and get telling those stories. Magic and priceless. If you are not doing this, you are not having the impact you need to have. And Kindra does a great, funny job of making this simple, easy to understand and just plain fun. Best book I have read this year and I read a lot. Buy it, implement it.

Amazing book. Great stories and great room for thinking how this affects my (your) business. The author is an amazing story teller! Fun read!

I run a business with my brother, I am in charge of marketing and sales, I am an engineer and my knowledge and experience in digital marketing are limited, but not my expectations to stand out Every morning when I get up, after having my first glass of water and gradually being aware of the new day, checking my cell phone still lying in bed, checking emails, facebook, instagram, etc, ... and feeling puzzled to see the same ads, the same ways of convincing, showing features, benefits but nothing else, achieving, despite spending thousands of dollars, to be nothing more than one of the many options without further differentiation, without further encouragement to take action than discounts and promotions, so I immediately feel an enormous anxiety to show my company in a subtle, different and emotional way, that shows the value that I can offer, then I feel anxiety and finally frustration when knowing that I still lack of the knowledge to achieve it Until I decided to solve it, I already knew that a very powerful weapon to achieve it, is something that many talk about and is fashionable ... storytelling, so the first task was to find a book that would give me the necessary practical knowledge to start creating meaningful and diferent content, stories that make my company stand out, it was easy to find and decide on this book, which came out as the first option, so get to work and started reading it, now without giving mind, I'm here writing the review I finished reading the book and I feel anxious and above all, able to start telling stories, about my product, about my company, even about myself, and I am already imagining, my ads, my content, so different from what I usually know in my vertical. Without a doubt, the techniques and method taught in the book to conceptualize and create stories is what allows me to have this security of putting what I have learned into practice. So yes! I recommend this book to anyone who still has uncertainty about telling stories to highlight his or her business from their competitors.