Examples Open Doors

Why Principles Alone Do Not Change People

We tell people what is possible. We explain values and strategies and models. And then nothing changes. Why, and what does.

What an Example Actually Does

An example does more than illustrate a point. It changes what the listener believes is available to them. Understanding this is the difference between inspiration and information.

The Example Closest to You

The most powerful example is not the famous one. It is the one from the same world as the person listening. Why proximity matters in examples, and how to use it.

Stories as Evidence

Humans are wired to receive stories as evidence in a way they are not wired to receive statistics. Understanding this rewires how you teach, lead, and persuade.

Being an Example

You are already an example to someone. Understanding what your life communicates about what is possible, and whether that is what you want to communicate.

Using Examples Well

How to find, choose, and share examples that open people up rather than closing them down. The difference between an example that inspires and one that intimidates.