What’s Your Story?

Everyone has a story. We all do.

One of the best kept secrets of marketing is “story-telling”.

My Mom calls me a story-teller; sometimes she says I am just a (well….that’s another story...). Some of my best friends tell me I’m a (can’t put that one in print…either) when it comes to all my stories.

Stories are something I discovered a long time ago.

When people hear stories: about you, your restaurant, how you came to get into this business; some of the trials and tribulations you faced over the years…and such; they see you as another human being, with the same kinds of problems and opportunities (both taken and missed) as everyone else.

They don’t trust you because of your credentials and degrees.

They trust you because your credentials tell them they “should” trust you. In reality, they trust you because they feel you understand them.

They don’t necessarily trust you; they trust your story.

If you can tell your own story well, it has the gigantic power to push you through this faltering and fading economy; through the uncertainty associated with this crazy environment in which we have to do business these days. Your story will help you get through the political and social unrest, the changes and finicky fads that plague our industry.

Your story is yours. If you don’t choose to tell it well, who will?

Recently, a close friend shared with me the private writings of both her Aunt and her Mother. Later in life, these two sisters had taken the time to put their life’s story in writing, in the form of a “book”. After their respective deaths, these stories were ‘found’ and read by their very close relatives.

Talk about revealing and explaining! I could only imagine how different their two lives might have been if they had just ‘stood up’ and told their story to those who might care to listen at the time. Things might have been genuinely different…and better for them.

You and your restaurant have a story.

You should tell it.

Use as many means as you can to get that ‘story’ across and out there. Make sure your staff know and understand your story too. They will be able to tell it to their guests…which is all good.

What do you think? Go ahead, tell me yours; give me your two cents’ worth. I’d love to hear your comments!