Cover via Amazon

You… are a professional communicator, parent, family member, teacher, friend, or just someone who wants what you say to be remembered. But, you ask, how do you do that, exactly?

MADE TO STICK

In their book Made to Stick (affiliate link), brothers Chip and Dan Heath describe their journey of analyzing messages that have stuck with us. They looked at urban legends, proverbs, and other forms of communication that people across history have been able to remember.

They have been able to identify six characteristics of messages that persist. They even came up with a handy, sticky acronym to help us remember them: the SUCCESs.

Let’s look at these elements and find ways to make our messages memorable, whether they are blog posts, announcements, instructions, or even words on a cover letter or resume.

SIMPLE

Simple messages are not dumbed-down or made stupid. They hit the core of the matter. In the military, the commanding officer does not need to tell the entire unit how to get to the top of the hill before sundown, he just tells them to do it. That’s the core of his message – it’s simple and easy to understand.

Not like some company mission or vision statements, unfortunately.

Complete this proverb: “A bird in the hand is worth _____.”*

You know the answer because it’s a proverb. Again, simple doesn’t mean dumbed-down – it’s got the complexity removed from it.

Twitter is a great tool to help us with this. Can you get your point across in 140 characters or less? If not, then forget about it.

UNEXPECTED

Was the title of this post a bit provocative? In January, the New Media Cincinnati social media networking group held a panel discussion about online. We wanted to get people’s attention. So we came up with the title: “Naked on the Web! How’s YOUR Privacy?” It got a lot of attention.

Our messages need that dash of unexpectedness in order to get attention and be memorable. Think about the urban legend about the guy waking up in an icy bathtub with his kidneys removed. That’s unexpected!

CONCRETE

In order to make our messages clearly understood, we need them to be concrete. When we start talking about how many calories we need in our diet, the number doesn’t mean anything. But show us how much food that is, and we’ll understand. The President can talk about removing $100 million from the US budget, and that seems like a lot of money (it is, relatively speaking). But compare that with the total national budget with a nice graphic visual, and it makes more sense to us.

After the earthquake in Haiti last year, we were given the ability to send a text message and donate $10 to help the cause. Breaking it down in a simple, concrete way, makes it easy to remember and act on.

CREDIBLE

Our messages need to be believable in order for them to be remembered. Doctors and other medical professionals have some built-in credibility by nature of their profession. In some cases, we need to borrow from someone else’s credibility as we share our message.

And sometimes, the average person can have credibility himself or herself. Remember Clara Peller’s character in the Wendy’s “Where’s the Beef?” commercials? She was able to say what we all wanted to say, and that gave the message its credibility.

EMOTIONAL

For our messages to be memorable, they need to hit us emotionally. This is one reason, why, when we see PSAs asking us to help out impoverished areas of the world, they tell the story of a single individual and what our donations would do to help him or her.

Our individual messages may inspire compassion, outrage, guilt, anger, resentment, or any other emotions. I’ve noticed over time that some of the most popular posts I’ve written over here are those that get the biggest emotional response from others.

STORY

Weave all as many of these elements as possible into a story, and chances are we’ll have a sticky message. We remember stories more easily. Children love to be told stories – Aesop’s fables have remained popular over the years. So have the parables that Jesus told.

I encourage you to read Made to Stick. You can get a copy from the affiliate link here, check it out from your public library, or, like my friend Andy did, borrow a copy from someone else. Our SUCCESs in communicating a message that will be remembered by others depends on how many of these elements are in them.

Make them sticky!

Related articles

• Made to Stick Learning (eideneurolearningblog.blogspot.com)
• When you communicate – are you memorable? (psychologytoday.com)
• Leadership Hall of Fame: Dan Heath, Coauthor of “Made to Stick” (fastcompany.com)

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Image by thinkingdigital via Flickr

Nancy Duarte from Duarte Design analyzes Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech, using principles from her book Resonate (affiliate link), and reveals the magic behind its construction.

Her analysis inspires me to want to be a better communicator.

Click here to watch the embedded video.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech analyzed by Nancy Duarte from Duarte Design on Vimeo.

Related articles

• Visual analysis of ‘I Have a Dream’ speech (flowingdata.com)
• We can live Martin’s dream today (danieljohnsonjr.com)
• Top Storytelling Techniques Posts From 2010 (Part II) (ishmaelscorner.com)

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Last week I gave a talk at the Job Search Learning Lab (JSLL) in Anderson Township here in Cincinnati, Ohio. They had requested that I speak about blogging, specifically in getting started with a WordPress.com blog. I recently checked and realized that I have created over 15 blogs since I first started back in 2002. Many of those are fallow or have otherwise been shelved.

I used the occasion to try out the Prezi.com presentation software.  Check it out below, or directly at the Prezi.com website here:

For more information about me, the work that I do, speaking that I’ve done, please check out my About page at http://danieljohnsonjr.com.

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• Prezi Paths: Linear Storytelling in an Infinite Landscape (tippingpointlabs.com)
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• Lessons learned from creating my first presentation with Prezi (mindmappingsoftwareblog.com)

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Tonight I had the wonderful privilege to speak at the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Job Search Ministry in Anderson Township, here in Cincinnati.  They had approached me a few months ago and asked if I would come in and talk about effective networking.

When I think of effective networking, and the extent of my skill with it, I think of the book Never Eat Alone (affiliate link) by Keith Ferrazzi. As I mentioned in the talk, I had two different people recommend the book to me when I was in a job search back in 2006. I have since read the book two times over, and I’m in the middle of my third time. The book hasn’t changed; the person reading it has.

I structured my talk around the the before, during, and after – ongoing stages of building relationships, with twelve points taken from the book. I could have shared many more, but 12 was enough.

Below is the Slideshare of my presentation. If you’d like, you can download a PDF version.

Some other things I mentioned:

• Crying while eating alone (video)
• JibberJobber.com for personal relationship management
• How I Got My Job, job search success stories podcast
• Next Tuesday I’ll be sharing my own recent How I Got My Job story with the $timulus Networking group, which meets at 7 PM at the West Chester Barnes & Noble. The audience will ask me the questions I typically ask on the program! It will be recorded for release on the program.
• Connect with me on LinkedIn – (be sure to mention where we know each other to make it more personal)
• New Media Cincinnati social media networking group. Add yourself to the mailing list to be notified of upcoming events.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Keith Ferrazzi: Are Your Poor Listening Skills Hurting Your Career? (huffingtonpost.com)
• Unemployment and Underemployment (jibberjobber.com)

[PHOTO CREDIT]: Steve Molloy

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This past Wednesday I spoke at the Northern Kentucky Career Achievement Network (CAN) to a group of over 50 people, giving a workshop entitled “Activate Your Super Powers: The Social Media Utility Belt“.  Below are the slides from my talk.

The first four and the last one were provided by the N Ky CAN, and the rest are what I used during my portion of the workshop.  Chances are that the slides won’t make much sense without my narration, and that is intentional.

Please get in touch with me if you’d like to have me give this talk again.

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This coming Wednesday, January 27, 2010, I will be giving a free workshop as part of the Northern Kentucky One Stop‘s Career Achievement Network (CAN) monthly series.  The title of the session is “Activate Your Super Powers: The Social Media Utility Belt”.  Sign up here.

Some basic themes we’ll probably cover:

• What are your super powers?
• Every hero has an origin story. What’s yours?
• As a hero, having been given super powers, what will you use them for?
• What tools are useful for you in carrying out your mission?
• How do you know you’re using the right tool for the right task?
• How does all of this apply to your job search and career development?

When: Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Agenda:
8:30am – Structured Networking
9-11am – Program

Location: Northern KY Government Building, 8100 Ewing Blvd. Florence, KY (map).

Facilitators:
Daniel Johnson Jr.
Bob Pautke

The only investment is your attendance & participation. Free to attend, but reservations are required. Sign up here.

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This week has been rather tiring, but I admit, it’s been exhilarating at the same time. Here’s an opportunity for me to “come up for air” somewhat, and provide a recap, highlighting some milestones and other media-related items.

NaPodPoMo: 1 video every day for 30 days

Learning how to answer job interview questions and producing daily videos with the answers is a daunting task. I’m glad I don’t do this every day. I might consider doing it for money and am considering ways to reuse the work I’m doing to make it count for something more.

The National Podcast Post Month community is a group of weird folks like me who are podcasting every day this month.

Lights, sound, and media at church

Tomorrow our church is having its Women’s Day, and I and another guy will be in the soundbooth, helping with some things behind the scenes.  This past Wednesday I got a crash course in programming the lighting mixing board (I think I know enough to be dangerous!). It’s all good, and it’s amazing what we’ve been able to accomplish, even on such a short notice.

50th interview for How I Got My Job

One week from this coming Sunday, I will be releasing the 50th interview I’ve done for How I Got My Job.  I recorded that interview this afternoon and didn’t realize it until later this evening.  I don’t number the interviews on purpose because they are meant to stand alone and remain evergreen. Even so, this is something I’m very proud of.

Last New Media Cincinnati Second Saturday for 2009

On November 14, 2009 I will be running the last New Media Cincinnati Second Saturday for 2009. I am so inspired by the depth and breadth of talent and accomplishment in this group, and I look forward to hearing some great stories of how individuals have grown and changed this year.

We are planning a simulcasted meetup with the folks from New Media Dayton, and it was great to have many of them on last night’s planning conference call. Be sure to check out the recorded audio, if only to hear the interaction in the community and some great music from Rich Palmer mixed in during post-production.

On the search for gainful work

Next week marks 5 months since I was laid off from my previous employer.  It’s been an interesting journey, and I remain hopeful to find something soon.  There are a lot of things going on that I’m not able to talk about just yet, but if and when they come to fruition, you can bet I’ll be talking about it.  There are opportunities for work for someone else, and I’m also seeking opportunities to get things done on my own.

Speaking in Cincinnati next week

Next Thursday, November 12, 2009, I will be speaking to a group of job seekers at IHM in Anderson about the Emotional Side of Job Search. I gave a talk like this to some other job seekers back in April, and it will be great to revisit this talk, now from the perspective of being a job seeker again.

photo credit: “Coming up for air”

Related articles by Daniel Johnson Jr and Zemanta

• National Podcast Post Month (NaPodPoMo) (danieljohnsonjr.com)
• Walk with me (journeyinsidemymind.com)
• Qualities of Successful Job Seekers (danieljohnsonjr.com)
• NextEmployee.com – Record A Job Interview Online (killerstartups.com)

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Today I will be on a panel at the University of Cincinnati as part of the Broadcast Educators Association (BEA) conference, talking about The Future of Local News.  Others on the panel with me are Brennan Donnellan, Hagit Limor, Elissa Sonnenberg.

Here is an excerpt from the event description I received:

Ten years ago, there were two strong local newspapers that competed on both sides of the Ohio River with Cincinnati and Kentucky editions of The Post and The Enquirer . A joint-operating agreement between the Gannett-owned and Scripps-owned newspapers dissolved in 2007 and The Cincinnati Post ceased publication. Meanwhile, four network-affiliated television stations continue to local news with the Fox affiliated WXIX-TV recently adding a local newscast. Yet, WXIX-19 news’ additional newscast now must compete with hyperlocal content produced by Web sites such as AroundAnderson.com. Meanwhile a growing community of social media enthusiasts show up each month for meetings of the group, New Media Cincinnati, which is less than two years old. It’s a new day in local news and the future is bright for those who are forward-looking. The symposium will bring together those from the old and new media along with one who crosses both. The goal of this symposium is to arm broadcast educators with a 2009 perspective on what it means to do LOCAL NEWS and to gauge what that might look like in the next two to three years for the new broadcast journalists heading into the industry.

It looks to be an interesting time.

Possible related articles by Zemanta

• US newspapers, not TV, seek web skills (reportr.net)
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Earlier this summer I got an opportunity to talk to a group of people in the Cincinnati Social Media community about the How I Got My Job project for one of their Open Mic Nights. If you’re not part of the LinkedIn group, and you’re into social media in the Greater Cincinnati area, you should join.

It was an interesting time for me, because

1. I had recently been laid off the month before
2. I was running Kevin Dugan’s UStream channel for those who were unable to attend and to create an archive of the individual speakers’ talks.

Below is the UStream video of my talk, followed by the slides I used, so that you, too, can follow along.

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