I’m ugly crying.
In front of a handful of people who lined up to meet him.
At CRS. A conference called Country Radio Seminar. I still go, even though I’m no longer an on-air personality.
In one of the sessions, a band I love, Old Dominion, is being interviewed.
I get to my seat and holy shit - Shane McAnally - one of the best songwriters on the planet is doing the interview!
I must talk to him. I must meet him.
The interview is over. I love Old Dominion and Shane even more now.
I approach the stage and yell “Shane!” He comes over and talks to a guy in front of me.
And now it’s my turn.
It takes two seconds for Shane to turn from him to me. And two seconds was all it took.
I said “Great. Now I’m ugly crying.”
He sees my contorted face and jumps down from the small stage and gives me a hug. I can’t put into sane words how much I love the songs he’s written. My brain is as empty as the beer cans in CRS recycling bins.
But hot damn I got a hug from Shane McAnally!
I walk out of the room and wipe tears off my face all the way down the hall.
As you can tell, the songs he writes bring so much joy to my life.
And this is the power of storytelling.
The lyrics make me feel.
I relate.
I see things in a new way.
I’m amused.
Or I cry.
Just like the stories I hear in my storytelling workshops for leaders.
We talk about how stories foster empathy, build trust, and inspire action. Just as Shane’s stories move me, effective storytelling in business does the same thing. It can connect teams and spark a shared purpose.
Whether it’s a story that’s sung or a story that’s spoken, storytelling isn't just about the words. It's about the human connection they create.
The stories you tell matter.
But, there’s a method to good storytelling.
How do we know? Because we’ve all heard bad stories.
Stories that are way too long.
Stories that make no sense.
Stories without a clear purpose.
And if you’d like to learn how to tell a good story to help your team with sales, productivity, or climate, get in touch. (Connect to me here.)
I teach teams how to tell effective stories that actually matter.
Because in the end, it's not just about what you say, but how deeply you connect and motivate through the stories you share.
P.S. Here are some of my fave songs Shane has written/co-written
Follow Your Arrow, Biscuits, Merry Go Round, Rainbow - Kacey Musgraves
Drinkin’ Problem - Midland
John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16 - Keith Urban
Stay A Little Longer - Brothers Osborne
23- Sam Hunt
Marry Me, T-Shirt - Thomas Rhett
Fancy Like - Walker Hayes
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