Arianna Huffington, cofounder and editor in chief, The Huffington Post
Peter Guber asked Arianna Huffington, founder of the Huffington Post, “If history is a trustworthy guide, will state-of-the-art-technology ever replace state-of-the-heart-technology?” Leading the charge for one of the web’s most widely-read, linked to, and frequently-cited media brands, ironically, Arianna doesn’t believe online technology will ever replace direct human interaction.
“The more time we spend in front of screens,” she said when she visited one of Peter Guber’s UCLA courses, “the more we crave human contact. I believe that intimate in-person interactions where we tell stories to realize our ambitions, goals, and dreams will only intensify as technology expands.” And in business, she predicted, we’ll come to rely more, rather than less, on direct human interaction — especially when it comes to gauging a prospective partner, client, or customer’s character.
“It doesn’t mean we must be face-to-face to make all our decisions,” Arianna continued, “but if there’s something incredibly important on which everything depends, you always want to be in the room.”
MORE ABOUT TELL TO WIN
To validate the power of telling purposeful stories, Guber includes in this book a remarkably diverse number of ‘voices’ – master tellers with whom he’s shared experiences. They include YouTube founder Chad Hurley, NBA champion Pat Riley, clothing designer Norma Kamali, “Mission to Mars” scientist Gentry Lee, Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank, former South African president Nelson Mandela, magician David Copperfield, film director Steven Spielberg, novelist Nora Roberts, rock legend Gene Simmons, and physician and author Deepak Chopra.
After listening to this extraordinary mix of voices, you’ll know how to craft, deliver – and own – a story that is truly compelling, one capable of turning others into viral advocates for your goal.
