Do you remember the first time you heard a really good story?

One of my first times was when I read "Ramona the Pest" by Beverly Cleary.

As a kid, I loved to curl up in my favorite chair in our living room and transport myself into the misadventures of Ramona Quimby.

Even now, I remember how my heart would race, reading about her getting into trouble over and over for misbehaving.

At the same time, as a shy suburban kid who often took myself a little bit too seriously, I really admired her fun-loving attitude and her carefree spirit.

I've always loved stories because they allow me to experience other worlds I didn't know anything about, yet helped me make sense of my own world at the same time.

But stories aren't just for books or movies or entertainment.

They're one of the most powerful forces on the planet to connect, persuade and influence our mindset, beliefs and behavior.

And that's why storytelling is one of the most powerful marketing and leadership tools there is.

In a world cluttered with forgettable, lackluster messages, stories make us memorable.