The Story That Runs Your Story

As chairman of Sony Entertainment, Peter Guber was requested by its corporate owner, Norio Ohga, to fly Bangkok to persuade the King to end the rampant piracy of its entertainment products in his country.

Guber prepared a story for this royal audience. But Guber broke into a cold sweat as he took a first sight of the King’s ornate badges. As a kid, Guber had been hauled into the headmaster’s office after a fight at a new school. Guber overheard the headmaster tell Guber’s parents his story of what happened. Charging in to refute it, the sight of the principle wearing a scout master’s uniform with what seemed like a thousand merit badges emblazoned across his chest rendered Guber mute and defenseless. He ran out.

That story, hiding in Guber’s unconscious, now roared its ugly head. Guber sucked it up and was just completing the final tell when Ohga tugged on his arm. Smiling, Guber said, “I’m almost done. The King’s got it!” Ohga replied, “Guber-san! That’s not the King, that’s the guard!”

Peter Guber had been so bamboozled by his own back story, he’s told the perfect face-to-face story to the wrong face!

 

MORE ABOUT TELL TO WIN

blog-telltowin-linkTo 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.

 

Anderson Cooper, veteran news journalist, CNN

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