AI, Shm-A-I

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Storytelling will outlive AI.

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Stories are what we live by.

We invest our belief systems in them.

We recall them to remember loved ones.

We tell them to entertain or motivate others.

We tell them to engage donors and stakeholders.
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Stories have been around since the dawn of man, and I don’t see that changing simply by throwing more tech in the mix. Because when empathy is at the heart of our story, people keep listening.

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Empathy keeps our humanity at the forefront. When we can – as Atticus Finch says – put ourselves in someone else’s skin and walk around in it, we connect ourselves to people and causes that make real change.

Storytelling remains a powerful tool for nonprofits and mission-driven brands to share their impact. AI is here to stay, but I don’t think it will change and replace as much as some people are saying. So when you’re staring at the blinking cursor of doom, wondering how the hell you’re supposed to persuade people to support your mission, tell a story about the impact you’ve been able to make recently.
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Here’s how I like to set the scene for powerful storytelling:

>> Who needed help?

>> What resources or group of people offered their hand?

>> Show the impact. Demonstrate how it made the receiver feel, and how the resources change their physical sense of safety, self, or growth.

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Tell a story this week and track your engagement to see how your audience responds. Reply to this email once you do -- I'm curious about your outcome!