The Benefits Of Telling Your Story
"Good stories always beat spreadsheets."
- Chris Sacca, famous early investor in platforms like Twitter, Uber, and Instagram
"People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it."
Simon Sinek, five-time author and motivational speaker
Storytelling is the most effective form
of communication humanity has.
For thousands of years, both oral and visual storytellers have held an exalted place in societies worldwide. Our ancestors painted pictures on cave walls; Greek and Roman orators like Socrates and Cicero made careers out of speaking to crowds; Native Americans storytellers and Icelandic skálds passed down their lessons and histories in the form of stories; and today the world is filled with journalists, filmmakers, and novelists who all seek to share and expand upon the human experience, which is unique for all of us.
What makes the the best stories so memorable?
The answer is simple: Characters.
You need to look no further than iconic franchises like The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter,
or Star Wars to see this dynamic at work. Even our collective fascination with
Tiger King can be attributed to the presence of great characters.
People love these stories because of the unique characters within them, the journeys they took, and the obstacles they overcame along the way. Stories without strongly motivated characters and conflicts often flounder. People connect best with other people, making character-centric stories the kind with the most powerful, lasting results.
Analytics back up the power of
video storytelling in a BIG way.
We've all watched a viral video and seen incredible stories of people overcoming huge obstacles in their personal lives. The simple fact is that video content spreads further and faster than any other type on the Internet. There is no quicker way to expand your personal brand or business than by creating compelling, story-driven content.
I can tell you from personal experience tracking analytics at my current job that video posts on our social media platforms bring in double the engagement as the next closest post type, photos. Oftentimes the disparity is even larger.
Just check out some of these eye-popping statistics:
By 2022, 82% of global internet traffic will come from video streams and downloads.
(Source)
Viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video compared to 10% when reading it in text.
(Source)
80% of video marketers say video has directly helped increase sales.
(Source)
84% of people say that they’ve been convinced to buy a product or service by watching a brand’s video.
(Source)
What kind of story can best fit your marketing needs?
Whether you're an individual, business, or non-profit, you can benefit from having
your story told properly. To that end, below are three big types of
stories that can provide huge benefits when properly told.
These aren't the only type of stories or videos I do, but they are some of the most powerful.
Once they are in your toolbox they can be used over and over again to
connect with people, build your brand, and achieve your goals.
Origin Story
This is a story that tells how a business, brand, or idea came to life. What problem did you set out to solve and how have you accomplished that over time, from your beginnings to where you are today?
Why Story
This is a story that gets at something deeper, the motivations and drive behind why you've set
out on the journey to do what you do. Why do you wake up in the morning and
continue on your path?
Impact Story
This is a story that shows the positive impacts that your product, service, or organization has made in advancement of your mission. How has the work you've done created positive outcomes for your target audience or the world at large?
Everyone has a meaningful story to tell -
including YOU!
Many people have doubts or are hesitant to put themselves out there at first. I promise I get it and understand because I AM THE SAME WAY. The video you see at the top of this site wasn't easy for me to do at first, because despite telling many other people's stories, I was very reluctant to tell mine.
In the end though, I'm glad I did. I truly believe there is something out there that EACH PERSON can add to the world, and I'm here to help you share yours through the power of video. If you're willing to be open and vulnerable, the benefits of telling your story can extend to many other areas of your life.
If you've never really been on camera before or don't have much experience, don't sweat it! I will work with you and others within your organization not only to ensure you look and sound good, but that you're comfortable throughout. Interviewees often forget the camera is even there!
I'd love to chat more about the potential for the story you have to share with the world and how I can help bring it to life, so feel free to reach out! If you're interested in watching some more of my work and the results that it has helped generate for clients, keep scrolling.
My Keywords
These are the "secret sauce" words I use to guide my storytelling.
Connection
Life is all about connections, both with each other and the broader world around us. My aim is to tell stories that connect with people deeply, on an emotional level, because that is where real depth of soul and authenticity are found.
Curiosity
Finding out what makes other people tick is a natural inclination of mine. This tendency lends itself perfectly to storytelling, helping me understand the entire depth and breadth of a subject so I can best capture and portray it
through video.
Fortitude
Everyone goes through challenges in life - it’s how we respond that defines us. Whether you’re an individual, business, or non-profit, my goal is to tell your story of overcoming obstacles to create real, lasting value for the world - no matter how big or small that may be.
Positivity
Not every story is positive from start to finish, but I aim to always end on an uplifting note, a call to action that people will remember and be able to use in their own lives. The world can always use more positivity and good vibes and it's part of my job to create them!
Passion
This is the key ingredient. When it’s lacking we feel aimless in life, like a hamster spinning around a wheel. I want to work with people or organizations that are excited about what they do because that is what will always translate to the most impactful stories.
About Rick
Simply put, I'm a documentary-style filmmaker who enjoys working with subjects who have stories that can change and impact the world.
My career started as a photojournalist at WTOV9, a small TV station in Steubenville, Ohio, where I "cut my teeth" in the industry covering local news and sports. Following that I worked in a similar position with WESH2 in Orlando, Florida, where I covered both local and national breaking news, including the Pulse Nightclub Tragedy, college bowl games, the 2016 presidential election, and much more. While doing all of the above I've also worked on a freelance basis shooting a wide variety of content including weddings, real estate, commercial and promotional content, and more.
Currently I'm employed full-time as the Senior Multimedia Coordinator at the Seminole County Sheriff's Office near Orlando, helping them create a powerful storytelling narrative to connect with the local community, in addition to handling live events, boosting social media engagement, and interacting with local media partners to coordinate coverage.
When I'm not busy shooting video and stills I love performing improv comedy (I can get you free tickets to our next show), playing in recreational sport leagues (frisbee, dodgeball, and kickball are my favorites), and just straight up enjoying the Florida sunshine, which is the main reason I moved here to start with.
If you'd like a more official version, my resume can be viewed and downloaded here, and my direct email is here.
