Create a world. In six words.
Remember when you were in grade school and you returned from your summer break, knowing that your new teacher would ask you, once again, to write a story called My Summer Vacation. Why not write a story now that can convey the essence of your summer, in only six words? You know that images can say […]
When “I” Becomes “We:” Letting our stories connect us
I’m looking forward to helping a new friend work on a grant application for his nonprofit. He does critically important work inspiring disadvantaged teenagers to recognize their greatness and stay in school. He uses his own story to show how a bad choice can affect your life forever. I was moved to help because I […]
When concise can cripple
Get to the point In my business writing class in B-school, I learned to be succinct, concise and make my point quickly. Unlike the meandering essays of my earlier college days, business writing was about producing summaries in a page or less for executives to skim. In a time-pressed business environment, being able to boil […]
When a Story Becomes a Game-Changer
If you ever needed proof of the power of story to set a direction for an industry, take a look at The One Device: The secret history of the iPhone by Brian Merchant, just released this week. (You can read a long excerpt here.) Creating a story about technology and the future is risky. But […]
8 reasons not to tell stories (a warning for consultants and trainers.)
“Storytelling is dangerous.” I wrote this in my chapter in Sakile Camara’s book for trainers Communication Training and Development (Kendall Hunt Publishers, 2017) that is about to be published. My article is titled The Savvy Storyteller: A Guide for Trainers. I assume that if you read this blog and do any teaching, you value interaction, engagement and learner-focused objectives. […]
Four Words to Help You Bridge Divides
Have you noticed how the fault lines between our values in the United States are becoming chasms? The distances separating conservatives and progressives, blue states and red states, pro-lifers and pro-choicers appear to be growing. That makes it oh-so-tempting for me to want to curl up in my island community and just speak with […]
Breaking the Spell
Is our country under a spell? After the last presidential debate, I felt the need to wash away a residual toxicity, so I indulged in a long bath with a light read. I picked up my copy of The Joy of Witchcraft, a novel billed as “A Humorous Paranormal Romance.” I needed something light. I admit to a secret curiosity about witchcraft. […]
“Tell Me Your Story.” How to Elicit GREAT Stories From Your Clients (and Friends)
Many years ago, I was sitting in a doctor’s private office, waiting to meet a holistic practitioner who had been highly recommended to me. In my lap was a list of health related problems that I wanted to discuss. But when the doctor came in, instead of asking what was wrong with me, he sat […]
Isn’t it time to share your story?
Your story matters. Or more accurately, your stories. I know because I’ve been working on a project this summer, helping dozens of nurses tell their stories by conducting story circles, holding private interviews, and editing written stories they gave to me. Probably none of their stories would be considered monumental by Hollywood standards, yet each in its own […]
Don’t create your legacy – claim it
Near the end of the movie Schindler’s List, there’s a gut-wrenching moment when the Jews who’ve been kept alive by Oskar Schindler prepare to leave his factory. Hearing their moving tributes, he sobs, “I could have got more out. I didn’t do enough,” and collapses in tears. Schindler saved 1100 lives. Happily, the movie doesn’t […]
