CEO excellence is built on something invisible: Ideas.
Recently, Stu Sjouwerman, CEO of KnowBe4, the global leader in Security Awareness Training, put out the original version of THE KNOWSTER PLAYBOOK as low-cost as possible to make it super easy for 2000+ Knowsters worldwide to buy it and read their own physical copy.
Stu had one goal: to empower his people around the globe.
In his words:
âI build companies. KnowBe4 is my fifth. I learned the hard way and with a great deal of studying what works and what doesnât. My motivation? Building a great company with an awesome team is a super fun game.â Stu Sjouwerman, CEO, KnowBe4
Great ideas that empower are important. Getting them into the hands of your people is crucial.
That’s why, when I bought and read the Playbook, I was inspired.
I saw it as something the world needed to know. So I had the inspiration to create a special edition.
I had one prerequisite: the ideas we all embrace have some common traits, and this must include those.
The best TED Talks have them, Steve Jobs mastered them, and the top thought leaders use them, as well as the best restaurants, retail outlets, athletes, and Shark Tank pitches.
And that’s what I am talking about today in this article.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Some stats shed light upon the factors that shift how rapidly a good idea gains traction:
- 63% of us remember stories; only 5% recall statsâstorytelling wins every time.
- 65% of viral TED Talks feature personal storiesâengage with authenticity.
- 89% of readers recommend books with great designâaesthetic sells.
- Visual storytelling techniques in book design increase reader engagement by up to 70%.
- 84.3% of presenters prioritize visualsâdesign matters in presentations.
- High-quality visuals boost engagement by 80%âmake your content pop.
- Stories are 22x more memorable than mere facts.
This all falls under the banner of âThe Art of Presentation.â
While ideas are indeed unstoppable, the ones that gain traction and adoption ensure aesthetics play a crucial role in the way the ideas are shared, and the art of presentation is undeniably interweaved in the message itself.
In this video, I explain how I applied this to the book written by Stu:
Under the Influence of CEO Excellence, Ideas are Unstoppable
Ideas are like popcornâtheyâre popping up everywhere, all the time.
Thatâs the magic of human creativity: unstoppable, unpredictable, and totally uncontainable.
Ideas donât care about barriers; they just find a way to spread, like the universeâs version of Wi-Fi. đ
Aesthetics Ensure Ideas Arrive
Aesthetics play a vital role in the creative process and the development of ideas:
⢠Buckminster Fuller, a renowned inventor, believed that problem-solving is wrong when it is not beautiful.
⢠Richard Feynman, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, stated that truth is always recognized by its beauty.
These insights highlight the intrinsic connection between aesthetics and the generation of innovative ideas. Furthermore:
⢠Learning aesthetics is crucial for developing creative capacity. It helps individuals think about the ideas underlying artworks and the forms that express those ideas.
⢠Aesthetic education should begin early. As soon as children start asking âWhy?â they should be introduced to art developing their aesthetic curiosity and inquisitiveness.
The Art of Presentation is a Necessity, Not a Luxury
Some eye-opening stats:
⢠Effective presentations can influence decision-making processes by clearly laying out facts and figures in an engaging manner.
⢠Presentations break down complex information into digestible parts, making it easier for the audience to grasp and remember crucial details.
⢠In business, strategic presentations can align teams and stakeholders, driving innovation and facilitating clearer understanding.
When you master the art of presenting, youâre not just communicatingâyouâre unlocking doors, influencing decisions, and giving others the clarity they need to succeed.
Itâs about using your voice and vision to help others see whatâs possible and making a real impact, one idea at a time.
Why These Insights Matter
In a world of fleeting attention spans, the ability to captivate and resonate with your audience is a superpower.
Whether youâre pitching an idea, crafting a book, or delivering a presentation, stories, and visuals arenât just add-onsâthey are the game-changers that make your ideas stick, spread, and spark action.
Key Takeaways
- Stories resonate and stick: Audiences remember stories 22x more than facts because they evoke emotion and create a connection.
- Authenticity engages: Personal stories are the backbone of viral TED Talks, proving that vulnerability and relatability are key.
- Design influences perception: High-quality visuals not only captivate but also boost confidence in presenters and make books more shareable.
- Visual storytelling sells: Books with compelling design see up to 70% more engagement and are 89% more likely to be recommended.
This is Why I Wrote Rich Brand Poor Brand
In the movie, Any Given Sunday, Al Pacino told his team, âEither we heal, now, as a team, or we will die, as individuals.â
NY Times bestselling author Simon Sinek said: “Customers will never love a company until the employees love it first.”
I can think of no more powerful way for you to tackle 2025 than by grabbing a copy of Rich Brand Poor Brand: How to Unleash Your David in a World of Goliaths for yourself and your team.
It’s designed with large text, lots of visuals, and a 50-page “playbook” showing you how this looks and works in the real world, and is immediately actionable.
Your brand lives out there.
But it comes to life in here, with our people.
A rich brand isnât about size or industry. Itâs about culture.
The Rich Brand has NOTHING to do with size, industry or location. It has to do with something hiding in plain sight: The culture, that unique oxygen, that makes up a company.
The richer the brand, the healthier the “air” — the poorer the brand, the more toxic that oxygen will be.
