Picture This

I tell stories every day. I use them to explain what I mean, what I want to be and what I do. Stories may be full of words but they only work if they paint pictures. People don't really want to read; they don't really want words - they want pictures. They want stories.

When I ask business people to tell me what they do, there are usually very few pictures knocking around in the words they use. Academics are even worse.  Ask them about the research studies they've spent the last five years of their lives on and they'll give you more words than your brain can cope with, but almost nothing to see.

So tip for the day: if you're struggling with how to put your business idea on the page right now, give it a personality. Is it a Brian or a James? Quentin or Dave? What car would it be? If it were a sound, a book cover, a musical instrument, what would it be? Play with your words until your idea has a character, a name and a star sign. Until you can see it. Now you can tell your story and people will listen.

www.gillysmith.com