Storytelling is important. Especially for us who operates in the Sales, Marketing and Communications part of the world (add Training too, since that is my primary task!). But even the greatest of stories can fail – unless the story itself matches the core message you want to convey to your audience! Connect, Persuade, and Triumph with the Hidden Power of Story – Tell to win!

Let me tell you a story…

Just before Christmas, the Belgium company Barco acquired Norwegian projectiondesign, the company I’ve been working in for almost 8 years. projectiondesign has felt like my 2^nd home and I have a large number of very passionate, proud and great colleagues – and friends – there. Last Tuesday, (as part of the projectiondesign/Barco joining forces event) at the Barco International Sales Meeting, I got to present the projectiondesign story, our market focus and product range (with a colleague).

Now I have the audience, but which story to tell?

The challenge was to find a story that could easily be passed on to my many (100-ish) new colleagues. It would have to be inspirational and explain who we are and how our new, extended family of colleagues can become a great winning team, and it should preferably be a Norwegian success story, known to the audience. Honestly there are not too many to choose from. I wanted the story about projectiondesign to be about passion, determination and persistence.

I found, I found! The story was…

… of course it had to be Thor Heyerdahl, the great Norwegian adventurer, and one of his expeditions – the Kon-Tiki. I decided to start the presentation with a picture.

This picture represents passion, determination and strong will! Thor Heyerdahl was made famous with his balsa fleet Kon-Tiki, which he used to cross the Pacific Ocean from Peru to an Island (Raroia) in the French Polynesia. He was a man on a mission to prove that immigration to the islands could have come from Peru – and not necessarily the immigration paths the traditional scientists believed!

The passion, persistence and determination – made him a fantastic success!

Did it work?

Well. I would always love to deliver my presentation again. But I do think the message was well received – and that we all can be a great success together in the new, stronger Barco family – if we all bring our passion, persistence and determination into creating the team that reaches for the highest altitude!

I would love your feedback on this!

PS! The last sentence of the intro is the same title as a book by Peter Guber. Read it!