Feedback Form
Home Features Mastermind Videos About Advertise Blog Network Contact
   
Entrepreneur Advice:
Keith Ferrazzi
www.ferrazzigreenlight.com
   
About Keith Ferrazzi

Widely hailed as one of the world’s most “connected” people, Keith Ferrazzi is the author of Never Eat Alone, the international bestselling book about building relationships for success. Ferrazzi is also an acclaimed speaker and CEO of Ferrazzi Greenlight, a consulting and professional development firm that helps organizations drive growth through relationships. Earlier in his career, he was chief marketing officer at Deloitte Consulting and the youngest to be tapped for partner in the firm's history. Then, upon joining Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Ferrazzi was the youngest CMO in the Fortune 500. He also served as CEO of YaYa Media before founding Ferrazzi Greenlight.



Recent Article:

Great Storytellers, Great Leaders - For more on Keith Ferrazzi visit www.ferrazzigreenlight.com

Recently I had the pleasure to join an outstanding group at the home of my good friend Peter Guber, one of Hollywood’s greatest moguls, most innovative thinkers, and finest storytellers. In the room were Oscar winners, top business execs, and even one of America’s top engineers, all united by their ability to tell great stories.

The guest list: Scott Adelson, Senior Managing Director at national investment banking firm Houlihan Lokey; Ron Bass, the Oscar-winning writer of Rain Man; Colin Callendar, President of HBO Films; Chad Hodge, one of the CW network’s hottest young writing talents, and a former intern of mine when he was just a kid at Northwestern University; Chris Ludeman, President of CB Richard Ellis and Americas Brokerage; Gentry Lee, Chief Engineer of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the folks who, among other front-page news, discovered water on Mars; and Teri Schwartz, Dean of Loyola Marymount’s film school. I moderated the discussion.

The drive to Peter’s 17-acre estate took me up a winding, jasmine-scented road in the Bel Air hills. I was buzzed in through majestic wooden doors that opened upon someone’s remote command, then drove past a couple of auxiliary cottages to the main house, built into a mountain. Inside, a palatial vaulted living area borders on a wraparound terrace that looks down over the blinking lights of Los Angeles.

Point is, whatever it is “success” requires, Peter has it!

As it happens, Peter’s going to write an article for Harvard Business Review on how great storytelling has contributed to his success, and can do the same for others. This goes for anybody – CEO, politician, or PTA president. Put simply, if you want to transform yourself from humdrum boss into the Braveheart of your company, you need to be able to tell a grade-A, edge-of-your-seat story.

In the warm, convivial setting of Peter’s living room, we tried to find, as Peter put it, “The DNA of great storytelling.”

Here are a few highlights – for more, sign up for my free Tip of the Week; we’ll be sending out a sneak peak of his article.

A great storyteller is:

Well-trained is his craft. Technique is a definite prerequisite.

Authentic. It’s clear he believes 110% in his message.

Passionate. He doesn’t just believe it, it moves him.

True to core values.

On a hero’s journey – and able to take his audience with him.

Everyone around the table spoke articulately and compellingly, each with the wealth of his individual perspective. But as the evening unrolled, we all agreed that Gentry Lee, JPL’s chief engineer, had an extra-special gift as a storyteller. (Seriously, I wanted to know if he was available to book for parties and Bar Mitzvahs, but I guess running one of the nation’s top scientific labs keeps him pretty busy.)

Dressed in plaid and a baseball cap, Gentry riveted us every time he opened his mouth, whether to discuss the online game World of Warcraft or his use of storytelling to capture the media’s imagination.

But in talking about his family at one point, Gentry got right to the core of what makes a good storyteller: Creating an experience in images that evokes an emotional response.

“One of my sons wants to be a surgeon. You know why?,” Gentry asked us. “Because the TV show Grey’s Anatomy hooked his heart. His brain came later.”

To hear more about this incredible evening, sign up for my Tip of the Week.



Like this article? Share it with your friends
[Get Copyright Permissions] E-Mail | Print | More  


Related Articles Related Articles
Leadership Styles - the Ten Top Qualities the Best Leaders Show
  Leadership Styles vary enormously, but there is one overriding quality that is vital in all top leaders...
"The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves" Ray Kroc - fou...
“Twelve Essential Characteristics of MVP (Most Valuable Performing) Leaders”
  We often hear some people referred to as leaders. And sometimes they are called great leaders. What makes a leader or great leader? What are the essential characteristics of those leaders that are the most valuab...
“Essential Habits and Principles for Great Leadership”
  You have probably heard it said that many people are born leaders. However, the ability to lead is an art and requires learning a powerful set of skills and principles and then honing those skills and practicing th...
CEO Speak Out
  These are quotes taken from an article by Bill George former chairman and CEO of Medtronic.
Attracting Holding Good Trade Show Traffic
  These are quotes taken from an article by Bill George former chairman and CEO of Medtronic.

Related Forum Posts Related Forum Posts
Evaluation Questions Evaluation Questions
Re: Promotion Pack / Prize Pack Re: Promotion Pack / Prize Pack
Books for entrepreneurs! Books for entrepreneurs!
Franchise Questions Franchise Questions
Re: Most Useful SEO Tools For Webmasters Re: Most Useful SEO Tools For Webmasters
Rules of Management Rules of Management
Great young entrepreneur suggestions Great young entrepreneur suggestions
Coca-Cola Story Coca-Cola Story
 


Keith Ferrazzi Books

Never Eat Alone - Keith Ferrazzi

 

More Keith Ferrazzi

Keith Ferrazzi - Tip Of The Week

Top Business Speaker - Keith Ferrazzi

Blog - Never Eat Alone - Keith Ferrazzi

 

 
   
 
 
   

 

 

Have A Suggestion?
Toronto Salsa Classes / Toronto Salsa Lessons Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
Have A Suggestion?

Featured Ebook


ebook Famous Entrepreneurs - Modern Empire Builders


Featured Ebook

More Evan Carmichael
More popular articles
- Victim of his own success
Have A Suggestion?

Sales Lessons From Starbucks And Dell