Posts by Esther Choy
Be the First Rate Version of Your (Introvert) Self
Judy Garland once said, “Always be a first rate version of yourself, and not a second rate version of someone else.” It’s good advice. But for introverts, it can be tough to follow. Every day, we have to perform tasks that seem like they were tailor-made for extroverts. We have to go to networking events.…
Read MoreStorytelling: More Than Entertainment
My husband Bernhard grew up skiing. Now that he has his own family, he wanted skiing to be part of his family traditions. The only problem was, I didn’t grow up skiing and the one time I tried it when I was a teenager I hated it. And. One more problem. Neither of our girls…
Read MoreMy All Time Favorite Storyteller
Today, March 20, is World Storytelling Day! To celebrate, each member of our team shares their favorite storyteller: the person whose masterful storytelling enriches our lives and workplaces. Esther Choy, President & Chief Story Facilitator Favorite Storyteller #1: Justin B. Craig, Family Enterprise Professor at Kellogg As someone with over 30 years of experience…
Read MoreHow Female Leaders Can Tell Better Stories About Themselves
“Women tend to be less comfortable with self-promotion — and more likely to be criticized when they do grab the spotlight,” reported Susan Chira in the New York Times in July 2017, after extensive interviews that included many CEOs and would-be CEOs. Self-promotion is a delicate balance. But the alternative—hoping accomplishments speak for themselves…
Read More3 Business Storytelling Opportunities You’re Probably Missing
Interact with any child for even thirty minutes, and you will immediately hear how they tell stories about their day. Or they’ll tell you made up stories about some fantasy world. Sharing stories is the most natural human thing to do. But somewhere on the way to adulthood, we suppress this natural tendency at the…
Read MoreFinding Story Themes
Have you ever felt a little, well, lost when someone starts to tell you about something that happened to them? Maybe you were expecting a story, and instead, the person starts to ramble? That’s because a lot of people mistake recounting events for telling stories, says Esther in this conversation with Kathleen Buczko on…
Read MoreTapping into Intergenerational Learning
A guitar is thumping. Percussion instruments are clicking. Words are flowing fast and furious. And twelve 70 and 80 year olds near Miami, Florida are nodding their heads and laughing along with the beats. They’re attending a session on understanding rap music led by Jose Hurtado, a young musician who teaches for Mind & Melody,…
Read More5 Tips for Using Storytelling In Presentations
Frances, an executive at a hunger relief organization, had just received a lifetime achievement award. With it, she also received an invitation to present the highlights of her career at an awards ceremony, for an audience of several hundred people. Distilling the highlights of a career that spanned three decades into one presentation proved challenging.…
Read MoreHow To Keep Meetings Efficient When Data Is Involved
Project managers face unique challenges whenever data has to be explained during a meeting. Translating data is vital but time-consuming. A meeting that was moving quickly suddenly grinds to a halt. Attendees can get frustrated or confused.But it really is possible to run an efficient meeting where data is involved. In this article from Project…
Read MoreTelling Stories Across Lifecycles: Esther Speaks with YourStory
Throughout your business’s lifecycle, storytelling gives you an edge. From those nervous moments of pitching your idea to investors to the sleepless pace of promoting your new company to the times when you furrow your brow and reflect on how well your company is attracting and retaining talent—all of these stages are moments when story…
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