The Metaphor Minute Newsletter

As the year winds down, have some fun with these unfinished sentences. What metaphors or analogies can you use to complete these thoughts?

In the classic movie When Harry Met Sally, Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan eventually turn a platonic relationship into a happy ending romance. But what if Harry or Sally wanted to break off the budding romantic relationship and still remain friends with the other person? Likewise, what happens when you have to break up a business relationship, but still want to keep the lines of communication open and cordial? Can a metaphor help ease the way?  

By way of introduction to this month’s metaphor example, I begin with this twist from Shakespeare’s Hamlet: 

To regulate tech companies or not, that is the question;

Whether ’tis nobler in the culture to suffer the effects of outrageous algorithms,

Or, to enact regulations against a sea of lies and misinformation

And by opposing end them

Read on…

What extensive knowledge do you have that you probably take for granted? For example, do you know a lot about fishing, cooking, selling, being a single parent, using social media, fixing cars, running volunteer organizations, removing stains, managing a team, raising bees, etc.? Now, what if you could turn that knowledge into hundreds or thousands of dollars’ worth of revenue?  Sounds good, right?  And Paulette Ensign, who has forty+ years’ experience turning information into money-makers, helps her clients do just that. She explains how it’s done using a very simple analogy.

Mark Twain had it right when he said: “The difference between a word and the right word is the difference between a lightening bug and lightning.” We saw a vivid example of that difference in the news recently and it involved a metaphor.

You are the sales manager of this tech firm. The good news is your company has a new product to offer the market. The bad news is your team doesn’t see how to approach or easily present it to prospects. They are also reluctant to call on old prospects who have previously said “no,” because those prospects saw “no need” for the original product.  Success with the new product clearly starts with changing the team’s attitude. What would you do?  Here is how Chris Freeman, a sales manager who found himself in this situation, overcame these challenges– with the help of metaphors and analogies.

Last  month’s Metaphor Minute shared the metaphors AI created  to describe moms in honor of Mother’s Day.  It’s only fair this month to see what metaphors AI created to describe fathers in honor of Father’s Day this weekend.  Before you scroll to AI’s suggestions, think how you would describe your Dad. If you need a little help putting your feelings into words, perhaps these AI metaphors will trigger the apt sentiment.

Mother’s Day is this Sunday.  Love your Mom, but need a little help expressing appreciation of her? Perhaps AI can help you find the metaphors, poetry, or card greeting to communicate your feelings.  I asked ChatGPT to find all three and was amazed at the instant results, not all of which would be my style, but you decide what works for you. Check these out…

Artifical Intelligence is THE  hot topic of the day and nowhere can it help you more than in the creation of metaphors to help you make your point.  This is the best (and most entertaining) article I have seen on how to do that. Written by Mitch Jackson, lawyer communication pro, and fellow “Metaphorian,” he begins, “Good metaphors serve as a Trojan horse that sneaks your message into the hearts and minds of your audience.”

And it only gets better and better from there.  Enjoy, experiment and profit from it.

https://tinyurl.com/yncdyjtd

Anne Miller

Make What You Say Pay – with Metaphors

No doubt you saw pictures and stories on March 8th International Women’s Day celebrating and supporting the social, economic, cultural, and political achievement of women around the world. In that spirit, when you look at the metaphors below used by various women to explain, persuade, or influence their listeners, notice how the sources of metaphors are limited only by one’s imagination. 

Also, be sure to take the Metaphor Imagination Self-Test at the end of this article.  

I met Nathan Fraser, professional copy-writer, when I was a guest on the Copywriters Podcast discussing the power of metaphors with David Garfinkel. Nathan, who had a past life in rap, co-hosted that event and, afterwards, shared an interesting fact about how rappers use metaphors in their music in much the same way readers of this newsletter use them: to influence, sell, or persuade others to achieve a desired result.  Here’s how…