Start Up Weekend

I had the opportunity to Emcee an event here in Seattle this week that was a graduation of nine companies from a start-up accelerator. As I spent the week meeting and listening to the pitches of the budding CEOs, I was struck by the importance of story and presentation.

Each company had a great story, and some AMAZING technology. The start up accelerator had some great stories as well, and a great track record of helping entrepreneurs find their mission and realize their dreams. As each company's CEO stood up and talked for their six minute presentations, they were only able to partially tell the whole story of what they do.

I started teaching a story structure I learned years ago that is close to the same structure that Pixar uses for their movies:

1. Once upon a time...
2. And every day...
3. Until one day....
4. Because of this...
5. Because of this...
6. Until finally...
7. And ever since then...

This basic structure is based on all fairy tales. It can be adapted to whatever need you might have - even a new company:

1. Once upon a time... people had to do things a certain way.
2. And every day... this cost them more money and took more time.
3. Until one day... this new solution came along.
4. Because of this... people could get more accomplished.
5. Because of this... productivity and income increased.
6. Until finally... everyone used this new technology.
7. And ever since then... people have been much happier and offices worked more efficiently.

There are really only three parts:

• The balance (sentences 1 and 2)
  
• The un-balance (sentences 3, 4 and 5)
  
• And the new balance (sentences 6 and 7)
  

It's an easy structure, one that we all recognize and can use to help make people understand why we have created the company we have created, or why our software solution exists and what problem it solves. It also helps us see what the future will look like with our new solution.

Ask yourself: am I telling the whole story? When I send emails - am I telling people: 1) what I am working on, 2) what I need and, 3) what I hope to accomplish - or am I not telling the full story? When you tell the story of your company, can you tell the whole story?

ImprovMindset can help you present your story in an effective and memorable way. Click here for more info.

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