Superheroes Steal Their Reputations From Untold Stories
Lionel Messi. He's great, isn't he? Best footballer in the world. Or is it Marta? Who can tell them apart?
Big names, both of them.
Our Best Advice
D elve into your business for the untold stories of your (supporting) crew
I nterlink the stories and make an unbreakable chain that anchors your success
P ublicise them and show your audience the pillars of your triumphs
Neither Marta nor Messi would have become a big name on their own. No human amount of skill and stamina would allow a single individual to take on an opposing football team alone. Marta and Messi's genius is only able to shine thanks to the work of 10 team mates on the pitch with them. Without them, the superstar's story wouldn't exist. That makes the stories of the supporting cast vital.
Steve Jobs is the universal business genius. He first put drag-and-drop functionality on computers. Can you imagine the hell of life without drag and drop? Hallelujah! Praise the Jobs for saving us.
Do you know Jeff Raskin and Bill Atkinson? They invented and implemented drag and drop on Apple computers. Their stories make Jobs' story sing. Without the worker bees, queen Jobs (there are no king bees, so Steve will have to be Stevie for a moment) can't reign the hive.
Maybe your organisation has unspoken stories too that elevate your brand? Or is it only the CEO's yarn that binds the business together?
The consequences of not telling the supporting stories can be dire. In 2017, Barcelona's men's football team were trailing heavily in a Champions League tie with Paris St Germain. With only two minutes left of the tie, Barcelona needed three goals. In the fading embers of the fixture, Brazilian forward Neymar scored two and provided the vital pass for the third.
It was a memorable story, one of the greatest ever in football: Messi saves Barça. The picture of Messi at the centre of the adulation is the enduring image of the night. Incensed his story, his contribution, went unrecognised, Neymar (himself considered one of the great footballers of his generation) allegedly forced through a transfer away from Barcelona—ironically to Paris St Germain.
Unlikely Combinations Will Delight Their Senses Memorably
(A double bill of work by others that we think is fabulously attractive)
Our [GAB*] Tip:
Combinations of stories can be more enlightening than single stories told alone
The Attractive Way
Fragrant foot, nourishing nose
Merge to a delightful whole
you want to taste.
A diamond of a cake
cries out to to be worn
you'd love a taste.
*Genuinely Attractive Business
Podcast Your Supporting Cast
“Every famous accomplishment is built on the shoulders of unknowns.”
Podcasts reveal the stories of the famous and unknown people behind things we take for granted:
Try this podcast episode:
The Brain Food Show: Who Invented the Internet, Email and the Web?
In the latest episode of Business Jazz, Paul and Roger celebrate the role of the supporting cast (they are powerful when mobilised in your favour) and how great businesses are supporting their supporting cast in these difficult times:
Our podcast ("Business Jazz") is one of the world's most audience-dependent podcasts. We hope it sounds like a genuinely attractive business.
Please tune in here: Give It to Us Raw, Unexpurgated, Unabridged
What Would Happen If Your Supporting Cast Vanished?
(A cartoon fit for our latest episode of Business Jazz.)
Your Next Step Is...
Get in touch. Please let us know how you are coping.
Is there anything we can do to help? (Maybe we can be your supporting cast so you can shine your brightest.) Paul is available on Zoom with an eager ear and free insight and suggestions. Just hit reply to this email.
Also:
Give loud voice to the stories of your silent heroes.
Have a [GAB] week,
Paul, Roger and Anne