The Two Skills I Wish I Learned 20 Years Ago

Hmm, the benefits of hindsight – what a teacher you are! My journey as a creative entrepreneur has been filled with many highs and lows, victories, and mistakes. Many of these mistakes were avoidable. I don’t dwell on the past, but we can learn from it. What do I wish I had learned 20 years ago to help avoid some of my entrepreneurial endeavours? The two skills are sales and storytelling.

Turn with me to my book of revelations to share two game-changing skills I wish I had mastered two decades ago. Why, you ask? Simply because, my friends, if you can master these skills, you’ll not just gain skills but superpowers.

The Art of Selling:

I used to hate sales/selling. It felt pushy; I hated the in-your-face kind of selling. I hated that almost every salesman I encountered was trying to get me to open my wallet. I found it deeply irritating. Because of that, I hated all things sales/selling, and I never learned how to do it. I paid for it dearly. Because as a founder/CEO, you’re also the 'Chief Selling Officer', even though you may have a sales department. It doesn’t matter. You must learn how to sell.

Here’s what I’ve learned about selling – it’s about creating value, solving problems, building relationships, and improving people's lives. When I realised this, everything changed. Simply, the art of selling is about understanding and aligning with the needs, desires, and motivations of others to create a mutually beneficial exchange.

Selling…

• It’s Everywhere: Every conversation over coffee, every presentation, every email is a little nudge, a gentle persuasion. Whether you're sparking interest in your latest project or rallying your team around a wild idea, you're selling.

• Builds Confidence: It has certainly built mine. There's a certain thrill in nailing that pitch, in seeing the spark of understanding light up someone's eyes. Each yes, big or small, is a confidence boost, fuelling you to aim higher and dream bigger.

• Financial Freedom: And let's not pretend – mastering the art of selling opens doors of opportunities. One of these doors is the door to financial freedom. I’m hoping that that's something you’re interested in.

So here’s a VERY simple framework you can use to master the art of selling:

• Identify Your Audience: Know who you're talking to. What do they need? What struggles are they facing?

• Listen More, Talk Less: Start by listening to understand, not to respond. The more you listen, the better you can tailor your message.

• Solve, Don't Sell: Focus on solving a problem or fulfilling a need. Think of yourself as a helpful friend, not a salesperson.

• Practice, Practice, Practice: Get comfortable with rejection; it's not personal. Each no gets you closer to yes.

• Reflect and Refine: After each pitch, reflect on what worked and what didn’t. Keep going; continuous improvement is key.

The Art of Storytelling:

Now, onto storytelling. Whew, the power of a well-told story! If you master this skill, you’ll print money from the comfort of your home. Storytelling is like magic dust that transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, making what you do not just seen but felt.

Unlike selling, I’ve always loved stories and storytelling. But I didn’t master it. I wish I had. But the good news is that everyone is a storyteller. Some of us are better than others. Some of us are so good at it that billion-dollar industries are built on mastering the art of storytelling.

What is storytelling? To me, the art of storytelling is like painting a picture with words. It's when you share your ideas, experiences, or dreams in a way that captures people's attention, making them see what you see and feel what you feel. Good storytelling makes the audience go on a journey with you, whether it's to a magical land, deep into the past, or into the future. It's all about connecting with others by using emotions, humour, and sometimes surprises to make your message stick in their minds.

Why storytelling?

• Emotional Bond: Think of stories as the invisible threads that connect us, weaving a tapestry of shared experiences. They make your work sticky and memorable, lodging deep in the hearts of your audience.

• Simplifies Complexity: If you have a complex idea? Wrap it in a story. Stories have this incredible ability to simplify the complex, making it accessible and engaging. It's like turning yam into jollof rice (metaphorically speaking).

• Universal Language: Regardless of where you are on earth, a powerful story can transcend boundaries, touching hearts and, yes, sometimes even changing minds.

If you can master this, then you’re golden! So here’s a VERY simple framework you can use to master the art of storytelling:

• Know Your Core Message: Every story should have a clear, compelling message. What’s the heart of your story?

• Engage the Emotions: Hook your audience with an emotional entry point. How do you want them to feel?

• Structure Your Story: A good story has a beginning, middle, and end. Set the scene, present the challenge, and resolve it with your key message.

• Use Relatable Characters: People connect with people. Include characters or personas your audience can identify with.

• Practice Visual Storytelling: Enhance your stories with visuals, metaphors, and analogies to make them more memorable.

It's never too late to harness these superpowers. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting to sketch your dreams, mastering selling and storytelling can redefine your path.

I'm curious, though – what's been your biggest struggle as an entrepreneur? Share your stories, your battles, your victories. Because if there's one thing I've learned, it's that we're all in this grand narrative together, each of us a storyteller, each of us a seller in our own right.

My desire is that we don’t look back in another 20 years wishing we'd done things differently. The time to start is now. Let's make these skills not just ones we wish we learned but ones we're mastering, day by day, story by story, sale by sale.