THINK LIKE A STORYTELLER
NARRATIVE-DRIVEN COMMUNICATION
FOR BUSINESSES, LEADERS AND CREATORS
ONLINE • ON STAGE • IN PERSON • ON PAPER
Before we’ve said a word, our audience is already drowning in distraction.
The infinite scroll of content, dopamine, marketing and entertainment has created what experts are now describing as an existential crisis of attention.
How do we connect in a way that doesn’t add to the noise?
How do we craft our language so that our ideas and offerings are understood by others?
How can we make it easier for people to remember us, engage with us, and buy from us?
Think like a storyteller
I help you develop your Narrative Intelligence so that your
communication is clear, and your message makes sense
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Website review
Make it easy for others to know what you do and why it matters to them.Social media
Build an avatar that’s authentic, and content that stops the scroll.Emails and Proposals
Build templates for productivity, using language that feels human.
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TED Talks, Presentations, Weddings, Interviews
Learn the skills and techniques to present your ideas with clarity and authority.
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Elevator pitches, Networking conversations, Sales meetings, Client relationships, Staff relationships.
Develop language, scripts and empathy to allow authentic connections, and be understood and trusted.
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Brochures, White Papers, Books and cards.
Design and print collaterals for your business. Write and publish your book.
I’m Nathan Maddigan,
Story Coach.
story coach
/ ˈstɔː.ri kəʊtʃ /
noun
someone who provides narrative guidance
to businesses, leaders, and creators.
I remember my kids once asking me, “Daddy, what do you and Rach DO? Don’t you need a job and an office and a boss?”
Valid question, to be fair. On any given day, we could be photographing, writing, designing, training, coaching, publishing, or traveling across the world to meet new clients. Rach is an international keynote speaker, but also an artist, facilitator and disability advocate. I’m a story coach, but also a photographer, book designer and TEDx Licensee. How do I explain all that to an 8-year-old?
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“A long time ago, we did have jobs, with bosses and offices and everything. But it was frustrating, and unfulfilling, because we both knew we were built for something else.
“So one day we left the jobs and the bosses and the safe, secure village, and we walked to the very edge of the world, and we set up a tent on the cliff. It was terrifying, not having the stability of the village. Our friends and family said we were mad, irresponsible. But…” And here I lean in conspiratorially, which makes the kids lean in too, “But let me tell you, the views from the edge of the abyss are spectacular!”
“But Daddy, how do you get paid?” Jeremy, the middle child, never afraid to call out the BS.
“Well, each morning we fold proposals into little paper planes, and we hurl them off the edge of the cliff. And each evening new planes arrive, with cheques in them, and new work for us, and new friends to connect with.”
From then on, when the kids returned from school they’d ask, “how was the cliff today? Any paper planes?” And Rach would reply, “We got one from New York! Look how pretty it is!” And the kids would cheer for us.
I’ve spent my life on that cliff. It can be overwhelming sometimes, and frustrating, and scary, but also exciting, meaningful, and wildly profitable. And did I mention the views?
If you’ve found yourself on the cliff edge – building a new business, developing a presentation, writing a book – you’ll know what I’m talking about.
And you may have also discovered that we’re not meant to do this alone. We need to find our guides, learn the skills of navigation and communication, and practise our paper plane folding skills.
I’m your narrative guide, with a bunch of skills in storytelling, design, and communication. I’d love to help you succeed.
“If you want to work with someone who will help you reach your full potential, it’s Nathan.
Nathan worked with me to pull apart my cluttered and unorganised thoughts into a structured and balanced presentation.
He’s a great listener, and he makes you feel at ease without the fear of judgement. His sense of compassion and understanding perfectly complements his capability.
He helped me articulate in the most meaningful way what I really wanted to say.”
— Michelle, General Manager Strategy and Communications
“Using his ability to both safely hold space and provoke, my project has grown into a much bigger container than I could have imagined.
Would highly recommend Nathan for the role of coach and curator for any major creative undertaking.”
— Emma, change strategist, writer, political campaigner
“Your guidance has been so helpful in enabling me to really focus on who I am, what I do and what I offer. Enormous thanks Nathan!”
— Leigh, PhD BSW Churchill Fellow, Consultant
“Working with Nathan this year has earned me at least $100,000!”
— Jeremy, executive mentor, trainer, coach.
How it works
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Book a chat
Click the button below to book a conversation (online or in person). It’s free, and fun, and the easiest first step you’ll ever take towards growth and change.
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Make a plan
Together we'll consider what you need, and how best to get you there.
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Win the day
We get to work, develop the skills, build the content, and cut through the noise. I’ll be there every step of the way.
One on one coaching. With only one price.
With a single monthly investment and no lock-in commitment, you decide what you need each month:
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A single half-day session in a month.
4 hours, in person.Great for larger projects, such as website review, book design, narrative strategy, TED talk development, or ambition mapping. Also perfect for self-development: taking the time to build your own narrative intelligence.
$1,200 ex.gst
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2 x sessions in a month.
2 hours each, in person or online.Best for ongoing communication development, social media strategy, proposal design, content creation, white paper design. Especially useful for clients writing larger books or working on long-term projects.
$1,200 ex.gst
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4 x sessions in a month.
1 hour each, online only.Stay on track during periods of growth and change with weekly check-ins and strategy sessions. Great for developing networking and marketing language, planning client and staff conversations, and solving short-term-high-impact challenges.
$1,200 ex.gst
DOWNLOAD THE AMBITION MAP
Need help staying focussed on meaningful, story-worthy goals? This guide will help.
There’s a lot at stake for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and any of us who have stepped up to do the thing we believe matters in the world.
In the US, 50% of all small businesses fail within their first 3 years, and in Australia, we’re at 60%.
I’d like to keep you above that line, with a message that makes sense, a business that thrives, and a bank account that facilitates freedom.
We can’t afford to lose our voice to the noise,
and you don’t have to do this alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Absolutely. Every great author has a team behind them. I help you write, edit, and publish your work digitally and physically.
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A TEDx Licensee holds an exclusive license from TED (global) to run independent events in their city. These events are filmed and submitted to TED global, and are accessible worldwide.
I hold the license for TEDxPerth, and am a Curator and Speaker Coach.But no, I cannot promise you a spot on a TEDxPerth stage - we have systems in place to avoid favouritism and biased selection! That said, I am connected to the global hub of TEDx Licensees, and can certainly refer you to an event organiser in your city, and help you with your application.
What I do offer is one-on-one coaching to refine your idea and build your best presentation, so that when an opportunity to speak (on any stage) arrises, you will be ready.
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Narrative Intelligence is as vital to our communication as Emotional Intelligence is to relationships, or Artificial Intelligence to modern problem-solving.
While we all understand the power of storytelling (it’s still the most influential communication tool in the world), most of us overlook the role narratives play.
Our spoken stories reflect our unspoken narratives. Our unspoken narratives reflect what we really believe about ourselves.
Who are you? What do you do? Where are you going? Narrative Intelligence is our capacity to define and take control of these narratives.
We all have powerful, unique perspectives on the world. We have ideas to share, wisdom to give, products to sell, community to develop, but we need the right tools to connect with the world. Developing our Narrative Intelligence is one of those tools.
We build our narratives, deliberately and courageously, and then all our stories flow from them, and we connect with our customers just like storytellers do with their audiences.
And the audience is moved, transformed, and called to action.
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Short answer? Yes.
Over decades of being a SoloPro, I've noticed how often a small business owner receives the advice they need, without having anyone they can partner with to help make it happen.
I fill that gap, by not only offering the guidance and strategy, but also being available to do the work with you, one piece at a time.
Your headshots, your website, your book design, your narrative strategy, your next sales meeting - I’ve got you covered.
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I’ve kept my pricing simple for two reasons.
1. Because having too many options is confusing, and a confused client will always say no.
2. Because your investment compounds in multiple value currencies.* If we only focus on “my time for your money”, it limits how effective we can be together.
* Value Currencies:
When it comes to value and profit, we’ll all have different currencies that are important to us, at different times:Money is the obvious one. But we are often also seeking status, knowledge, happiness, health, and meaning, to name a few.
In every currency conversion, it’s my job to ensure that what you gain is always worth more to you than the amount you invest.
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The world is already flooded with business coaches, and they are all really good at what they do. You may already have one. You may be one.
I'm a Story Coach because my skillset and life experience are most aligned here, in the world of storytelling, narrative intelligence, and audience transformation.
This is my 10,000 hours, my life's work, and something I really believe is needed in the world.
While business coaching helps you hustle for profits and success, story coaching builds your identity and your message, and then activates the skills to share it. (Which of course also results in profits and success).
LET’S TALK
Start with a free chat, and decide what you need.