YOUR Big Story! Questions
What exactly are you going to teach me?
Over the four week course, I'm going to walk you through the process I've used in over 20 years of storytelling as a writer, author, journalist, marketer and consultant to create and share impactful stories for myself and my clients. We'll go through the process step-by-step to bring one specific story to life for you. But you'll also have the tools and skills to reapply what you learn for sharing other stories and experiences in your life, career, and business.
I’m not creative and my life story isn’t particularly exciting. I’m not a storyteller so I don’t see how storytelling can help me.
I know. Not a question. But an important point. The people who asked this don’t realize that we are ALL storytellers. Every last one of us. Our brains are wired to tell stories to make sense of life. And we are all also wired to receive and connect with people through their stories. The👏🏾 Best 👏🏾 Communicators 👏🏾 Tell👏🏾 Stories👏🏾 Whether you’re applying for a job with a resume or LinkedIn page, being interviewed, trying to grow a business, or develop a personal brand, storytelling is key to making those things relevant and motivating to your audiences. You are a storyteller. This course was created to help you develop the skills and access the tools to make you a better one.
I’m too busy right now, what if I can’t commit the time? Four weeks is a long time.
The program was designed to get you from identifying your story through to perfecting it and getting it out in the world in four weeks. The tools in it are meant to work no matter what kind of story you need to tell and the program is designed with busy, passionate professionals in mind. I know you have a full life, this was designed as a supplement. If you can commit three hours a week, you can do this. If you can’t that’s okay too. We’ll record all the live sessions and you’ll have access to them and the full course materials for a full year so you can move at your own pace.
Who is this course for?
You! I hope. More specifically it is for creatives seeking independents. Whether you are trying to level up in your career, start a creative project, or launch a business, this course will help you communicate the story around that effort with impact. If you’ve struggled to market your business, clearly articulate your ideas, communicate with impact, or build a compelling narrative around your life and efforts this course is for you. We believe every person is a storyteller and has a unique story (or a few) to share with the world. This course is set up to help you identify, articulate, and share that story with the world with easy-to-use frameworks and processes.
Who isn’t it for?
- Anyone who doesn't have a story or experience or career journey they are ready to share (though we can help you get ready)
- People who aren't self directed and have trouble doing the work themselves.
- People who aren't driven or don't want to leverage the power of storytelling in their lives.
- People who can afford expensive consultants or coaches and don’t want to dive into doing the hard work of establishing an impactful story.
How do I know this course is right for me?
If you have a an idea or ambition or just want to switch careers and aren't sure how to express your journey to the right people, this is the course for you. If you want to be a better communicator, speaker, or marketer, this course is for you. If those are true, the next best way to find out if this is right for you is to take the leap, make the investment and enroll today (remember you’re getting weekly live Q&A sessions with me as part of the live session program). Class begins January 31, 2022!
I don’t have a business and I don’t want one. How can this course possibly help me?
While I’m an expert in brand and brand storytelling, this course was made one level up from brand, personal, or professional storytelling. It is ALL about the foundations of storytelling. You’ll learn to tell stories in any medium for any purpose. It was designed to help ANYONE who wants to leverage their stories to be better communicators and more effectively engage people in all aspects of their life from their career to their relationships. I’m in the process of developing (and iterating) on supplemental courses that students will have access to if they want to dive even deeper into any particular area of storytelling like brand or career. Actually YOUR Big Story! students will always have first access to them as they launch.
Where does the course take place?
Storytelling university is all online! It takes place over four weeks beginning January 31. You gain access to each lesson as they’re released weekly. Hosted on teachable, each week contains a video lesson, and worksheets (which include all our powerful frameworks). There’s also a comment section for each lesson where you can ask questions and engage with your fellow students and then we gather on Sundays for an hour long Q&A with your teacher, Chantaie, so you can ask specific questions as we work together to help you shape your story.
What will I learn?
The course is set up to teach you the fundamentals of creating and sharing your story. It’ll help you take your business, career, or creative project to the next level. It will show you the tools you need inspires and engage the people in your life (from hiring managers to potential customers) through the power of clear and impactful storytelling. Each week builds on the one before it.
- In week one you’ll learn about the foundations of a compelling story. What you need to understand your own context and apply it to sharing your story
- In week two we’ll focus on crafting your story--developing the first draft of the story you want to share. You'll learn the fundamental elements of narrative and the worksheets will guide you in shaping your story. You’ll learn a simple framework for creating narratives so you can tell stories across mediums and how to make them compelling
- In week three we’ll dive into elevating your draft. We’ll identify the key questions you need to answer when telling your story, leveraging the gift of feedback. This week is about making your story sing.
- In the final week you’ll learn how to express and share your story. That includes how to write a manifesto and develop identify the best form and channels for your story. This is bringing your story to the world (finally!)
What does storytelling have to do with growing a business or changing careers?
The best and most successful people in the world are also effective storytellers. While storytelling is something we all do natural, some of us have tapped into the methods and means to share stories that change the direction of our lives. Storytelling is an essential part of bringing to life a successful business, shaping a career to be proud of, living a creative life, and stepping into the biggest dreams you have for yourself (and finding new ones). It’s also essential for creating meaningful connections between people and the world around them.
How will this help my business?
This program was created to help independent business owners understand and apply the fundamentals of impactful communications. You will leave with the skills to better market your business, communicate with customers, create unique experiences, and leverage storytelling (and your unique story) to help your business grow and attract new customers. You’ll also establish foundations for your business that you will be able to help guide the direction of your business for years to come.
How much does it cost?
This is an investment in your future and in your skills as a communicator. The value of the course is $4,799, which includes consulting and review time with Chantaie. But we run a company that has an anti-oppressive business model. We've developed this program to make it accessible to people who otherwise wouldn't have access to this invaluable knowledge and resources. We've priced it at $895(CAD) so as many people as possible can access the course.
$895(CAD) is a lot of money. How can I know it’ll be worth it?
Some of that comes down to trust. But it’s trust in over two decades of storytelling experience. I am a former journalist, an author, and a strategist by trade. I’ve spent most of my life bringing to life stories of all kinds and most of my career showing others (mostly clients) how to do it as well. But my goal in creating this program was to make it worth WAAAAAAAY more than $895. That’s why you’ll gain access to resources and frameworks you can use in any area of your life. The value of those alone is above and beyond $4,799+. I’ve also decided to put a satisfaction guarantee in place. If at the end of the course you don’t feel equipped to share your story, I will work with you directly 1:1 to get you there.
What payment options do you have?
You can pay for Brand Storytelling 101 using all major credit cards. If you see the value of this course but are not able to afford it right now know that it will be available again in the future. We want to work with you so if you need support in being able to afford the program, please reach out. Just include “Storytelling University Payment Options” in the subject. We have a sliding scale offering for those who need it.
Can I get a refund if I don’t like it?
We have a satisfaction guarantee. While we don’t offer refunds, we do want you to leave the program feeling equipped to tell your unique story with impact. The program is set up so that you can ask questions as you move through, gain feedback, and learn from expertise gained over two decades of storytelling. We include a weekly live Q&A sessions to go over any sticking points not covered in the comments area for each week’s lessons. If after the four weeks you don’t feel equipped and empowered, please reach out. We’ll work with you to unpack the areas of struggle and make sure you’re armed and ready to move forward. We’re here to help.
Who is going to be teaching us?
I am the founder and principal strategist of Ramsay & Co Consulting a boutique storytelling-led business and marketing consultancy. I work with Creative Independents and founders to help them break through to the next level of their business through tailored marketing strategies and storytelling workshops. I started storytelling university to help individuals learn the skills they need to effectively tell their stories, communicate with impact, and connect with new audiences through impactful storytelling. I also write a weekly storytelling newsletter, Adventures in Storytelling, that helps, marketers, business owners and creators craft their unique stories.
Can I just hire you to do it for me instead?
Storytelling University was created to help anyone, no matter where they are in their life or business to be able to tap into and leverage the power of storytelling to positively impact their lives and businesses. Hiring a consultant is often expensive. My rates start at $3,500 for very small engagements. If that sounds affordable to you, please reach out. If not, I’ve set up Storytelling University to equip you to do it on your own and establish the essential foundations of impactful storytelling and high converting communications.
Where do I sign up?
You can learn more here and enroll here.
What exactly is Storytelling University?
Storytelling University is an online Storytelling and coaching resource for creative seeking independence, entrepreneurs, and professionals. It is a community of learners interested in unlocking the power of impactful storytelling to help evolve their businesses, careers, and change their lives for the better. Our courses help you become a better, more impactful storyteller so you can share your ideas, perspective, businesses, and experiences with the world. We’re here to help people share their beautiful, unique, magical stories with the world and give you the skills to apply storytelling with impact in all areas of your life. Join us.
Brand Storytelling 101 Questions
What exactly is brand storytelling?
We dive into this in MUCH more detail in the course, but brand storytelling is the work you do to establish and share the unique story of your business through marketing, communications, and experience creation. It is the story you tell and the experiences you create to help make and evolve a brand.
Who is this course for?
You! I hope. More specifically it is for independent business owners, creative entrepreneurs, and aspiring business owners that want to grow their business through effective communications. It’s for people with a passion and a desire to share that passion with the world but haven’t yet gained the skills needed to effectively do so. People who understand that building a business requires hard work and dedication but need a little help and guidance diving into it. If you’ve struggled to market your business, clearly articulate your idea, communicate with customers, or build a compelling brand around your business this course is for you. I believe every person is a storyteller and has a unique story (or a few) to share with the world. This course is set up to help you identify, articulate, and share that story with the world with easy-to-use frameworks and processes. New and established small business owners will especially benefit from the program—it’s your chance to access the expertise of expensive marketing and communications consultants without paying the thousands of dollars required to hire one.
Who isn’t it for?
Large complex business owners who have already developed and brought to life a successful brand. Anyone who doesn’t have passion for their business or idea and isn’t interested in impacting the world positively through their business and sharing their unique story. (If you’re just in it for the money, we can help but I’m not sure we’re right for you). People who can afford those expensive consultants and don’t want to dive into doing the hard work of establishing an impactful brand.
How do I know this course is right for me?
If you have a business you’re passionate about and truly believe in, this course was made with you in mind. If you have a vision of what your business can be for your customers but aren’t quite sure how to bring it to life, we want to help you. If you’ve struggled to market your business, truly connect with customers, and engage a loyal following this course was created to help you better understand how to do that. If those are true, the next best way to find out if this is right for you is to take the leap, make the investment and join the waitlist to learn more when the course reopens in the fall.
Where does the course take place?
Storytelling university is all online! It takes place over four weeks. You gain access to each lesson as they’re released weekly. Hosted on teachable, each week contains a video lesson, deck, and worksheets (which include all our powerful frameworks). There’s also a comment section for each lesson where you can ask questions and engage with your fellow students.
What will I learn?
The course is set up to teach you the fundamentals of creating and marketing a brand. It’ll help you evolve your business from a company into a brand that inspires and engages through the power of clear and impactful storytelling. Each week builds on the one before it.
- In week one you’ll learn about and create the foundations of a brand. You’ll gain access to foundational frameworks I’ve used to help build and evolve some of the largest brands in the world.
- In week two we’ll focus on identifying what makes you unique and begin to articulate your unique position in your category. You’ll learn the business blocks of business and how they apply to your business.
- In week three we’ll dive into creating your story. We’ll identify the key questions you need to answer when telling your story, the context that matters most for you and your brand narrative (the stories you’ll begin to tell for impact). You’ll learn a simple framework for creating narratives so you can tell stories across mediums and how to make them compelling for your customers.
- In the final week you’ll learn how to share your store. That includes how to write a manifesto and develop a communications plan using a classic marketing approach that works well for small and medium sized businesses.
What does storytelling have to do with growing a business?
The best and most successful companies in the world are also brands—they have value in the eyes of their customers because of what they represent, and the associations people have with them. Brands are something people are willing to pay a premium for. Brands are created through consistent and compelling storytelling, whether it’s through marketing, communications, customer experience, or product experience. When you tell your unique story in a compelling way, you build brands, and you infuse value into your business as you gain new customers and build loyalty. Storytelling is an essential part of bringing to life a successful business that will last. It’s also essential for creating connections between people and the world around them.
How will this help my business?
This program was created to help independent business owners understand and apply the fundamentals of impactful communications. You will leave with the skills to better market your business, communicate with customers, create unique experiences, and leverage storytelling (and your unique story) to help your business grow and attract new customers. You’ll also establish foundations for your business that you will be able to help guide the direction of your business for years to come.
My business is in a complex industry will it work for me?
This program was created to help you whether you own a product-based business, are offering a service or haven’t fully identified how you want to bring your idea to life. It is industry agnostic and the frameworks have been used to help businesses across fast food, health food, tech, manufacturing, health and healthcare, public service, packaged goods and so many more industries. These are proven approaches built to help you, whatever industry your business operates within.
How much does it cost?
This is an investment in the future of your business and in your skills as a business owner. The course is a supplement to our YOUR Big Story! program and costs just $495(CAD).
What payment options do you have?
You can pay for Brand Storytelling 101 using all major credit cards. We also have an easeful payment plan that breaks payments up into two payments . If you see the value of this course but are not able to afford it right now know that it will be back again (though at an increased price) in the future. We want to work with you so if you need support in being able to afford the program, please reach out. Just include “Storytelling University Payment Options” in the subject.
Can I get a refund if I don’t like it?
We have a satisfaction guarantee. While we don’t offer refunds, we do want you to leave the program feeling equipped to tell your unique story with impact. The program is set up so that you can ask questions as you move through, gain feedback, and learn from expertise gained over two decades of storytelling. We include a final live Q&A session to go over any sticking points not covered in the comments area for each week’s lessons. If after the four weeks you don’t feel equipped and empowered, please reach out. We’ll work with you to unpack the areas of struggle and make sure you’re armed and ready to move forward. We’re here to help.
Who is our teacher?
Based in Toronto, Canada, I am a writer and business consultant as well as a branding and storytelling expert who has worked with leading companies to help articulate and bring to life their brands through impactful storytelling. With over a decade of strategic marketing experience, I am a storyteller and communicator at my core. Words, stories, and ideas ignite me.
I am the founder and principal strategist of Ramsay & Co Consulting a boutique storytelling-led business and marketing consultancy. I work with medium sized business to help them break through to the next level of their business through tailored marketing strategies. I started storytelling university to help smaller businesses who can’t yet afford to hire a consultant learn the skills they need to effectively tell their stories, communicate with customers, and connect with new audiences through impactful storytelling. I also write a weekly storytelling newsletter, Adventures in Storytelling, that helps, marketers, business owners and creators craft their unique stories.
Can I just hire you to do it for me instead?
Storytelling University was created to help anyone, no matter where they are in their life or business to be able to tap into and leverage the power of storytelling to positively impact their lives and businesses. Hiring a consultant is often expensive. My rates start at $3,500 for very small engagements. If that sounds affordable to you, please reach out. If not, I’ve set up Storytelling University to equip you to do it on your own and establish the essential foundations of impactful storytelling and high converting marketing and customer engagement.
What exactly is Storytelling University?