"Smith is on a quest to spark the creativity of aspiring writers."
- Oprah Magazine
LARRY SMITH
Bestselling editor of 10 crowdsourced books; featured in Oprah Mag, The New Yorker, TED.com
Inclusive and gamified approach effective for small and large groups, company off-sites, and association event
Story whisperer Larry Smith helps teams at startups, established organizations, and Fortune 500 companies sharpen focus, unlock creativity, and bring their whole, authentic selves to the workplace. His approach is fresh, fun, deceptively simple, and immediately effective.
Larry Smith is the founder of the Six-Word Memoir® project, a bestselling series of ten books, live event program, and a global phenomenon engaging people at conferences and staff retreats, inside classrooms and boardrooms, at festivals and houses of faith. Larry originally launched the Six-Word Memoir project in November 2006 in partnership with Twitter with a simple challenge: “Can you describe your life in six words?”
Larry speaks on the power of brief and efficient storytelling to “get to the heart of the matter” at company offsites, conferences, and conventions of all affinities and descriptions. He has worked with teams such as Netflix, Nationwide, JPMorgan Chase, Levi’s, Snapchat, Dell, OhioHealth, ESPN, Google, nonprofits including the Zen Hospice Project and Dress For Success, as well as foundations and schools. He’s a frequent speaker at events such as TEDx, PopTech, Summit Series (called “Davos for the Millennials”), the AARP 50+ Convention, Dell Marketing Leader Summit, and teaches the class, “What’s Your Story? How to Deliver an Authentic Elevator Pitch” in private sessions and on-site at companies.
Oprah Magazine has called Larry, “On a quest to spark the creativity of others” and has been named “the most interesting person of the day” on CNN His work as an innovator in the storytelling movement has been featured in The New York Times, NPR, The CBS Early Show, Wall Street Journal, LA Times, Washington Post, USA Today, The Guardian, Edutopia, NPR, and the BBC. Visit Larry’s press page here.
Follow him on Twitter @larrysmith
Speech topics
EVERYONE HAS A STORY: SIX WORDS IS THE WAY IN
In this high-energy and interactive keynote, Larry takes audiences on a journey from the small-town pharmacy where his grandfather “Smitty” inspired his love of storytelling to his creation of the Six-Word Memoir format - a tool for concise communication and focused self-expression. Larry gets everyone engaged as they answer prompts in six words such as, “Why I Do What I Do?” and “My Team’s Mission in Six Words.” Everyone leaves with a practical tool they can immediately and effectively use in every area of life.
ELEVATORS ARE EVERYWHERE: PERFECTING YOUR PITCH FOR SALES & NEW BUSINESS
You’ve got to know your story to build your business. In this workshop, Larry details the elements of an effective elevator pitch, shares tricks to pivot your message on the fly, and underscores why anyone can — and should — become a powerful ambassador for your brand.
HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR CO-WORKERS? CONNECTING THROUGH PERSONAL STORYTELLING
In this fast, fun, and deceptively simple workshop, Larry outlines the essential elements of engaging personal storytelling and invites participants to share at least one Six-Word Memoir exploring their life experience. This workshop can be designed as a 30-minute standalone team session or embedded into the on-boarding process.
ONE DIRECTION: MISSION, VISION AND VALUES
From the C-suite to the help desk, owning and celebrating our roles is essential to individual satisfaction and company success. This 60-90 minute workshop connects participants to the organization’s mission. In large group gatherings and breakout sessions, team members collaborate to create a group-authored six-word mission statement that can be published in customized books.
WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER: DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING
Building a supportive and inclusive workplace culture has never been more essential. Larry’s book, Six Words Fresh Off the Boat: Stories of Identity, Immigration, and Coming to America, reminds us of the power of asking each other where we are from and how this shapes our worlds. In this 60-minute workshop, each team member shares six words about their identity to facilitate connection between teammates.
Books
A Terrible, Horrible, No Good Year: Hundreds of Six-Word Stories on the Pandemic by Teachers, Students, and Parents
The tenth book in the Six-Word Memoir series tells the story of a world we never expected to be in and can't stop talking about. Told through the lens of students, teachers, and parents around the world, A Terrible, Horrible, No Good Year offers hundreds of inspirational, playful, and profound takes on life during the pandemic. For some, this book will be a window. For others, a mirror of their own experience. For all of us, A Terrible, Horrible, No Good Year is a time capsule to be read, shared, and discussed and is certain to prompt friends, family, and neighbors to ask each other: "What's your six-word pandemic story?"
Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure
The Best Advice in Six Words: Writers Famous and Obscure on Love, Sex, Money, Friendship, Family, Work, and Much More
Six Words About Work
Six Words Fresh Off the Boat: Stories of Immigration, Identity, and Coming to America
Things Don't Have To Be Complicated: Illustrated Six-Word Memoirs by Students Making Sense of the World
Six-Words Memoirs on Jewish Life
The Moment: Wild, Poignant, Life-Changing Stories from 125 Writers and Artists Famous & Obscure
Six-Word Memoirs on Love and Heartbreak: by Writers Famous and Obscure
Substack
Say Less
The art of short-form storytelling for self-expression, focus, and connection. SUBSCRIBE HERE.