Listen "6 Stories Every Leader Must Master to Win in Business"
Episode Synopsis
Is Your Business Telling the Stories that Sell and add Value?
In today’s competitive marketplace, it’s not the best ideas that win—it’s the best stories. This week on A New Direction, I sit down with strategist and author Gavin McMahon to discuss his powerful new book, Story Business: Why Stories Rule the World and How They Can Reinvent Your Business. Gavin reveals why every leader, CEO, and sales professional must learn the language of storytelling if they want to inspire, influence, and ignite action.
We’ll explore the 6 essential genres of business storytelling—Value, Product, Brand, Sales, Leadership, and Culture—and how each one can transform the way you communicate and connect. Whether you’re pitching an idea, leading a team, or building a brand, mastering these six stories can elevate your message from informative to unforgettable.
Gavin will share practical insights on turning complexity into clarity, data into drama, and strategy into stories that stick. You’ll learn why simplicity is a competitive edge, how to make your message “retellable,” and what separates a leader who speaks from one who truly connects. By the end of this episode, you’ll understand how storytelling drives alignment, motivation, and measurable results—because when people believe the story, they believe in the mission.
Join Gavin McMahon and me, Coach Jay on A New Direction. Discover how these six stories can help you inspire your team, elevate your influence, and lead your business in a whole new direction.
Gavin McMahon's book, Story Business: Why Stories Rule the World and How They Can Reinvent Your Business" is a mind bender of a book. Hold on to your brains folks, because this book is going to challenge the way you think about every presentation, every intereaction, and every piece of marketing you do in your business.
The fact is...the stories matter! Here is the big fact: Our brains are wired for stories. Just think about it for a second. What is your favorite movie? Got it? Why is it your favorite? There is something about the story, right? Well what if we apply the same principles to every avenue of your business? And that is exactly what Gavin McMahon does in "Story Business". He pulls the elements of great storytelling and makes it applicable to you regardless of size of business or budget.
Many powerful things in the book, but the first one that stands out is the Motive Triangle: Hope, Fear, and Reason. The fact is we don't make our decisions rationally. Here is the key: Emotions create action. Reason creates rationalization. If you want people to move you have to connect to emotion...and when you can oppose hope and fear...you have a recipe for success!
Secondly, The Six Genres of Storytelling are extremely powerful: Value Storytelling, Brand Storytelling, Product Story Telling, Sales Storytelling, Leader Storytelling, and Culture Storytelling opens up our minds to worlds and possibilities that I certainly had not thought of before until I read the book.
I think Story Business is a must read for everyone. Check it out by clicking: Story Business
Please reach out and thank the financial sponsors of A New Direction:
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And here’s the best part: As a listener of A New Direction, you get an exclusive deal! Head over to zoundy.com/jay and use the code JAY25 at checkout to unlock special savings on your audiobook production. Don’t settle for anything less than studio-quality sound—power up your audiobook journey today with Zoundy!
In today’s competitive marketplace, it’s not the best ideas that win—it’s the best stories. This week on A New Direction, I sit down with strategist and author Gavin McMahon to discuss his powerful new book, Story Business: Why Stories Rule the World and How They Can Reinvent Your Business. Gavin reveals why every leader, CEO, and sales professional must learn the language of storytelling if they want to inspire, influence, and ignite action.
We’ll explore the 6 essential genres of business storytelling—Value, Product, Brand, Sales, Leadership, and Culture—and how each one can transform the way you communicate and connect. Whether you’re pitching an idea, leading a team, or building a brand, mastering these six stories can elevate your message from informative to unforgettable.
Gavin will share practical insights on turning complexity into clarity, data into drama, and strategy into stories that stick. You’ll learn why simplicity is a competitive edge, how to make your message “retellable,” and what separates a leader who speaks from one who truly connects. By the end of this episode, you’ll understand how storytelling drives alignment, motivation, and measurable results—because when people believe the story, they believe in the mission.
Join Gavin McMahon and me, Coach Jay on A New Direction. Discover how these six stories can help you inspire your team, elevate your influence, and lead your business in a whole new direction.
Gavin McMahon's book, Story Business: Why Stories Rule the World and How They Can Reinvent Your Business" is a mind bender of a book. Hold on to your brains folks, because this book is going to challenge the way you think about every presentation, every intereaction, and every piece of marketing you do in your business.
The fact is...the stories matter! Here is the big fact: Our brains are wired for stories. Just think about it for a second. What is your favorite movie? Got it? Why is it your favorite? There is something about the story, right? Well what if we apply the same principles to every avenue of your business? And that is exactly what Gavin McMahon does in "Story Business". He pulls the elements of great storytelling and makes it applicable to you regardless of size of business or budget.
Many powerful things in the book, but the first one that stands out is the Motive Triangle: Hope, Fear, and Reason. The fact is we don't make our decisions rationally. Here is the key: Emotions create action. Reason creates rationalization. If you want people to move you have to connect to emotion...and when you can oppose hope and fear...you have a recipe for success!
Secondly, The Six Genres of Storytelling are extremely powerful: Value Storytelling, Brand Storytelling, Product Story Telling, Sales Storytelling, Leader Storytelling, and Culture Storytelling opens up our minds to worlds and possibilities that I certainly had not thought of before until I read the book.
I think Story Business is a must read for everyone. Check it out by clicking: Story Business
Please reach out and thank the financial sponsors of A New Direction:
Enhance Your Audiobook Experience with Zoundy!
If you’re an author or narrator looking to produce high-quality audiobooks with ease, Zoundy is the ultimate tool you need. Designed specifically for audiobook creation, Zoundy delivers crystal-clear sound, seamless editing capabilities, and professional-grade production tools—all in one intuitive platform. Whether you’re recording your own book or refining your narration, Zoundy ensures every word is heard with perfection.
And here’s the best part: As a listener of A New Direction, you get an exclusive deal! Head over to zoundy.com/jay and use the code JAY25 at checkout to unlock special savings on your audiobook production. Don’t settle for anything less than studio-quality sound—power up your audiobook journey today with Zoundy!
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