"Stories spark emotions. We have an intuitive, emotional side as well as a deliberate, rational side to our character. Too often in business we only try and connect with people on a rational level but this isn’t enough to actually change how people behave.
People may understand what you want them to do but if they aren’t emotionally engaged they just won’t do it! Storytelling gives leaders a way of inspiring colleagues in a way that appeals to both sides of our character." (Source: www.thestorytellers.com)
In the years that I have been working with small food and drink companies and artisan producers, I have been fascinated with the stories behind why they set their business up. There is usually an emotional or personal reason or story behind why the business started.
My story is definitely an emotional one!
After leaving my husband (nine years ago now) I found myself alone, with two young children, aged 4 and 2.5, no job, no income and my parents lived over an hour away. I had a post graduate diploma in marketing, nine years of sales and marketing experience but the hopeless feeling that companies wanting marketing help would either want to employ a full-time marketing manager or use an established marketing agency. The thought of leaving my young children and returning to work full time filled me with dread and fear. So I took a risk and applied for a (very unsuitable) part-time job that I was far too over qualified for but cheekily included in my cover letter that I'd really love to get involved with the company's marketing! Little was I to know, this small start up fruit delivery company actually wanted a part-time marketing manager so were on the phone to me almost immediately!
I worked for Fruitdrop for 2 years, defining their marketing strategy and writing a plan for growth plus managing all of their marketing activity. I loved it! And was still able to collect my son from pre-school and my daughter from school. Working for Fruitdrop gave me the confidence to set up Klarity Marketing, as I knew I wanted help other small or start-up companies with their marketing AND working for myself gave me the flexibility to still be around for my children. So here I am, six years later, working with lovely artisan food and drink producers, happy, but also a mum. It's perfect.
I'd really love to hear your story and tell it for you via my blog.
Your story will be shared amongst The Artisan Academy members and then further afield via my social media channels. I am also going to use my PR contacts and try and get some PR for you off the back of this once I have written a number of blogs around this theme.
If you are local and I can travel to you, I'd love to come and visit. If you are further away then we can do this via Skype or via email. I'm really hoping you'd like to share your story with me?
I'd love to hear from you - please tweet me @lisafromklarity to show interest or email me lisa@klaritymarketing.co.uk and let's get your story heard!
Lisa from Klarity x