The Partner Channel Magazine_Winter 2018

As a professional writer for the past 12 years, I’ve written stories about how companies come to be, how a piece of
software has grown a business, how one man honors his daughter’s life by speaking to schools about drunk driving,
and how a man of 91 years old lived a life of hard work and excelled at every hobby he took up. And through this
experience, I’ve compiled a few tips on helping people tell their stories:
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Ask the stupid questions. I used to feel embarrassed to admit I didn’t know something. It wasn’t until I
accepted the fact that I’m not an expert on everything that I was able to dig into the details. What helps you
portray a story? Details! The more, the better, my friends. You don’t have to use them all, but it sure doesn’t
hurt to have them on hand if needed.
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Don’t judge…ever. I’ll admit, I haven’t been on the interviewee side of things much at all. But having
interviewed more times than I can count, I get that it can be a nerve-wracking experience. If you are able to
create an informal and nonjudgmental atmosphere, you get the best results from your interviewee. Be open.
Be kind. Be respectful. If you open the door to combative discussion, your interviewee will close up, and you
won’t get the story you’re looking for.
The range of stories I get the pleasure of putting down on paper is and has been my life’s work. I see it as a
gratifying way of connecting with everyone in my community, whether that’s within the Partner channel, the small
town I moved to last year, or my very own family.
So, one final tip for those of you hesitant to share your own story: You may think your story isn’t profound,
interesting, or worth getting out there. But you would be wrong. We all have a story, and stories are how we connect
with one another.
Author’s note: My job at The Partner Channel has been to help share our own company’s story as well as the stories
in the Microsoft Dynamics Partner community. If I’ve interviewed you over the past 10 years about your company,
customers, or own personal career, I thank you for sharing your story with me!
Editor’s note: It’s been a pleasure to watch Bethany exercise her creativity over the last four and a half years. Besides
writing for our magazine, she’s authored children’s stories, performed with her voice and guitar, and became a master
gardener. She’s not afraid to dig in and learn, and I’ve always admired that.
50 WINTER 2018 | THEPARTNERCHANNEL.COM