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Missed Opportunities and a Lesson from Toy Story 4

August 20, 2019 Jenny Riddle Leave a Comment

I was talking with a woman named Mary after my dramatization of Sally Field’s memoir this past May. As she looked around the room, she bemoaned the fact that their beloved organization was having trouble recruiting new members.

Mary’s not alone. Last year I heard from businesses struggling to convert new prospects, churches seeking to expand their membership, non-profits trying to stay afloat, and people of all ages interviewing for jobs trying to stand out from the crowd.

3 Irresistible Storytelling Tips for Acing the Interview

April 28, 2019 Jenny Riddle 2 Comments

Dedicated to our 2019 college graduates:

I pointed toward a figure way down below. “There she is! Tenth row on the LEFT.” We were seated in the Allstate Arena attending our first-born’s college graduation. From a vast sea of blue caps and gowns, I had managed to spot our Kaitlin.

Twenty minutes into the ceremony my phone buzzed. Text from Kaitlin: “BTW, if ur not sure where i am, i’m on the RIGHT side, row 15.” Oops!

Now our son Alex will be graduating in three short weeks. He’s … [Read more...] about 3 Irresistible Storytelling Tips for Acing the Interview

To: Marie Kondo aka Tidying Up Guru and Book Purger

February 25, 2019 Jenny Riddle 1 Comment

Dear Marie,

There’s a book of my father’s that I often return to: Classical Rhetoric. It was one of the first books he used to teach a course by the same name more than 50 years ago. Heady, boring stuff, I guess. Aristotle and the art of persuasion. Syllogisms. Fallacies. Ad Hominem. I know exactly where that old book sits—right on the second shelf of my skinny black IKEA bookcase in the backroom. Even before I open Classical Rhetoric’s familiar blue cover with its well-worn spine, I can … [Read more...] about To: Marie Kondo aka Tidying Up Guru and Book Purger

What’s Holding Your Stories Back?

January 15, 2019 Jenny Riddle Leave a Comment

After a loud outburst from my husband, I knew the Bears’ playoff game was over. Bill emerged from the basement in a combined state of shock and awe. The play-by-play of the final moment—when the Bears were down by one point and Cody Parkey hit the goal post resulting in a devastating loss and end of the Bears’ season—tumbled from his mouth. “But it was a great game,” he said. “The whole season has been unbelievable!!!”

The next morning, still reeling, Bill headed off to York H. S., stood … [Read more...] about What’s Holding Your Stories Back?

The One Secret To Leading a Fulfilling Life

December 5, 2018 Jenny Riddle Leave a Comment

That’s my attempt at a group selfie. As an entrepreneur, I’m constantly bombarded with the advice that in order to increase my business I need to be on all the social media platforms: facebook, instagram, twitter, plus others that I don’t even know the names of. But with social media, I always feel like I’m swimming upstream as others in my industry are posting multiple times a day or as I observe the other-worldly nimbleness of my children’s dual thumbs (not one index finger) tapping out … [Read more...] about The One Secret To Leading a Fulfilling Life