Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Harris.
Eric, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Over the course of my career – which has included roles on the agency and the brand side of marketing communications – I’ve observed a common and prevalent issue. The reliance on “decks” to persuade people. I’ve been fortunate to work with some of the most innovative and creative individuals on the planet, but their addiction to presentation software had a frightening way of making their big ideas seem very small. So, I made it my mission to help. I started GatherRound so these very talented people could return to the essence of storytelling, alleviate their dependence on decks, and learn to move people toward their ideas with powerful and time-tested narratives. Now, we teach The Campfire Method™, which is a 4-part curriculum designed to improve the rate at which ideas are sold.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We were very lucky to receive some early demand from clients who were willing to take risks and challenge convention, and we saw some great success. However, our biggest challenge continues to be the degree to which PowerPoint (and other presentation software) is deeply embedded in organizational culture. Some of our clients recognize the issue immediately, and once the case for change is made, we move into solution territory. But for organizations where PowerPoints are the air they breathe, it’s much more difficult to unwind, un-train and relearn.
Please tell us about GatherRound.
GatherRound is a marketing agency specializing in presentations. We work with complex, multi-unit, multi-layer organizations to improve the rate at which ideas are sold. Primarily, we do this with 1- or 2- day training workshops where we teach The Campfire Method™. It is based on the framework of an advertising campaign (because a presentation is analogous to a marketing strategy). We teach that the best presenters demonstrate mastery over four criteria in order to be successful: 1) Your Audience, 2) Your Story, 3) Yourself, 4) Your environment. When a presentation leverages all four, the odds of success increase dramatically.
We’re very proud of the relationships we’ve established with clients like Texas Health Resources, Pizza Hut, MOOYAH, Activision Blizzard, The Real Estate Council, On The Border and many more.
There are many presentation training outfits out there. I believe there are two things that set us apart: 1) Our focus on storytelling as a cornerstone in presentation development. It’s scientifically proven that stories are the most effective way to communicate. We are equipped to train our clients in storytelling methods in ways most other trainers are not. In fact, we find most training groups only teach how to improve PowerPoint skills. 2) In addition to offering training, we are an agency full of diverse talent, so we have the ability to brainstorm on our clients’ behalf and supplement our work together with progressive audio/visuals, speech and content writing, powerful experience design and more.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Growing up in Dallas, my family and many others observed a tradition to roll down our windows when we passed the Mrs. Baird’s Bread factory off US75 at Mockingbird. The scent of freshly-baking bread was so delicious, it would fill the whole car, making our mouths water every time. With no regard to the weather, or of our highway speed, we could guarantee faces hanging out of windows, from our car and those around us.
Today, our office is just down the street from that site. I pass it often, laughing to myself about how ridiculous we must have looked. Like dogs with our noses in the air, trying to catch a scent of delicious bread in the oven.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4849 Greenville Ave
#1225
Dallas, TX 75206 - Website: www.gatherround.us
- Phone: (214) 200-3437
- Email: eric@gatherround.us
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiesstick/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GatherRoundAgency/
- Other: www.mindhandle.com (our partner agency)
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