Storytelling in business has been a hot topic for quite some time, but crafting a strategic narrative is a newer, powerful concept, one that our guest, Guillaume Wiatr, knows a lot about.

What’s the difference between a story and a narrative?

As Guillaume shares with us, the old question of the glass half full or half empty can be instructive. The glass itself is the story, your perspective on its disposition is the narrative.

In this conversation, Guillaume helps me understand the difference between a story and narrative, and how the process is both a decluttering of noise, and a creating of clarity.

Guillaume is quick to use words like abundance, joy, and love, but is clear about how these things need to be applied in a systematic approach that produces money, for his clients and him. 

He also says that for many new business owners, despite what Simon Sinak says, starting with why can be dangerous.

In this episode, Guillaume answers the following questions:
- What is the difference between a story and narrative?
- How is narrative used in business?
- What does narrative literally mean?
- What are some common examples of narratives in business?

Our conversation about finding one’s superhero powers can be an example of a narrative (so meta!) and in that part of the conversation we come up with the equivalent of the Jump to Conclusions Mat…the game of Ikigai Twister. #TrademarkThatShit

My favorite quote from the episode: “My number 1 client is myself.”

I love Guillaume’s authenticity and conviction in this statement. It’s not narcissism or egotistic, it’s clarity that he needs to bring his A-game everyday to serve his business…and that only happens by providing business value to the clients he serves.

What I know to be true about the episode: Guillaume’s ability to help new solopreneurs and business owners think more deeply about the narratives they can own and craft for themselves is really powerful. Taking agency and accountability for one’s narratives is a superhero power.

What I learned from the episode: Guillaume’s example of the doctor office as part of a designed narrative made me realize how narratives are intentionally built into environments and into systems. 

I hope you enjoy the episode. If you do, please share it with a friend, and leave a review. I appreciate it.

Links to the resources in the show can be found on the episode page: https://whatdoyouknowtobetrue.com/video/more-than-a-story-narrative-power-with-guillaume-wiatr 
- Guillaume’s company, Metahelm
- Metahelm’s Narrative Power Assessment
- Book: "Back of the Napkin" by Dan Roam

Music in this episode created by Ian Kastner.

"What Do You Know To Be True?" is a series of conversations where I speak with interesting people about their special talent or superhero power and the meaningful impact it has on others. The intention is to learn more about their experience with their superhero power, so that we can learn something about the special talent in each of us which allows us to connect more deeply with our purpose.

"What Do You Know To Be True?" is hosted by Roger Kastner, is a production of Three Blue Pens, and is recorded on the ancestral lands of the Duwamish and Suquamish people. To discover the ancestral lands of the indigenous people whose land you may be on, go to: https://native-land.ca/