This past weekend was the 28th Annual Connecticut Storytelling Festival in New London, Connecticut. It was one of the best in a long time. Jay O'Callahan was our headliner. If you have never seen Jay perform you are missing a true master of words. His stories are easy to follow and delightful to the ear and imaginations as he weaves the tale full of similes and metaphors.
Jay was not the only reason the festival was successful there were several extremely accomplished tellers. The weather was energizing and the performances and workshops were invigorating.
The Storytelling Festival takes place the last weekend in April every year, mark your calendars and plan on attending next year. Check out the website, www.connstorycenter.org for information, details for next year will be posted at the end of this year. In the meantime check out Jay O'Callahan's website and, if at all possible, go see him live.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Goldilocks on Management
Right after my podcast on storytelling uses in business a friend sent me a book, Goldilocks on Management. I had never heard of the book by Gloria Gilbert Mayer and Thomas Mayer but was excited to see what they had to say. Flipping through the book my excitement increased as a I saw they used many of the same well known tales that I have used to make business points.
I read the introduction, we were on the same page, my excitement grew. Their theories and beliefs were similar to mine. I have not finished the book yet and will update this blog as I read along but my hot start cooled some when I read the first tale in the book, Little Red Riding Hood.
It was not what I had hoped for; it was more of a parody. I prefer to take the tale and find the lesson within it changing little. On an earlier blog posting I gave an example using the Emperor's New Clothes. I guess you might say that I am a bit of a purist and prefer to see the lesson as close to the original as possible. Of course that does not mean my way is the only way or even the best way. The Mayer's book may turn out to be just as powerful. I'll let you know as I read along.
Happily ever After
Carol
I read the introduction, we were on the same page, my excitement grew. Their theories and beliefs were similar to mine. I have not finished the book yet and will update this blog as I read along but my hot start cooled some when I read the first tale in the book, Little Red Riding Hood.
It was not what I had hoped for; it was more of a parody. I prefer to take the tale and find the lesson within it changing little. On an earlier blog posting I gave an example using the Emperor's New Clothes. I guess you might say that I am a bit of a purist and prefer to see the lesson as close to the original as possible. Of course that does not mean my way is the only way or even the best way. The Mayer's book may turn out to be just as powerful. I'll let you know as I read along.
Happily ever After
Carol
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The 28th Annual Connecticut Storytelling Festival
On April 24, 25, and 26 the Connecticut Storytelling Center will be presenting the 28th Annual Connecticut Storytelling Festival at Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut. If you are in the area please do try to stop by and attend as least some of the events. Tickets are available for the whole weekend or for individual events. For a complete listing of events, times and performers go to www.connstorycenter.org.
I hope to see you there. And if you do come be sure to mention my name, Carol Mon, and ask for a 25% discount on the tickets.
I hope to see you there. And if you do come be sure to mention my name, Carol Mon, and ask for a 25% discount on the tickets.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Working Stories Conference
THE NINTH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLING WEEKEND is taking place next weekend in Washington D.C. For more information on the dates, times, costs, and contents check out the website for Golden Fleece, storyatwork.com. Some of the best in the business will be there to share their knowledge.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Applying Folk and Fairy Tales to Business
I wrote the following entry for the storytellingwithchildren blog but I would like to display it here for ease. I was interviewed on this topic on a podcast recorded on April 6, 2009. It will be available shortly for downloading at www.storytellingwithchildren.com
Why tell stories to our children? Because it helps prepare them for life. An added benefit though, is we re-learn the important lessons within each tale. This reminds me of Robert Fulghum’s book “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.” Definitely true if someone read or told you stories during your formative years.
Folk and fairy tales are full of values and morals that we learn through repetition. Generally, as children we don’t stop to think what moral is being taught we are just enjoying the story for entertainment. The characters in the story model good or bad behavior and we see the consequences of their actions. Without receiving a lecture from parents we learn appropriate behavior.
As an adult storyteller I am often re-learning and telling favorite childhood stories. A funny thing happened; I started seeing all kinds of lessons in the stories that could be applied to the business world. My favorite example is Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” The Emperor is like so many executives I have met, they intimidate those who work for them. Information does not flow freely and eventually the executive finds himself parading around in only his underwear.
I work with all kinds of business people now and try to get them to understand stories are not just for kids. We need to remember these stories, learn from them and apply them to our current situation. Business people see the tales as frivolous and a waste of time, they want to learn from “real” business situations experienced by colleagues so that they can learn from them. So, you tell them the story of the Emperor and change his title to Executive Vice President. The tailors become consultants selling services, the courtiers are direct reports. The consultants fool the EVP and although the employees see it they fear the EVP’s reaction if they speak out against the consultants. Eventually the consultants leave town and the EVP finds a huge bill with nothing to show for it.
Did the story really have to change to be accepted? Unfortunately the answer is probably yes and not just because of prejudice (stories are for children’s entertainment). Something we have in kindergarten that is destroyed in many of as we go through school is an imagination. Business people lack the imagination to see how the lesson in The Emperor’s New Clothes can be applied to them.
More on imagination in business on future posts.
Why tell stories to our children? Because it helps prepare them for life. An added benefit though, is we re-learn the important lessons within each tale. This reminds me of Robert Fulghum’s book “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.” Definitely true if someone read or told you stories during your formative years.
Folk and fairy tales are full of values and morals that we learn through repetition. Generally, as children we don’t stop to think what moral is being taught we are just enjoying the story for entertainment. The characters in the story model good or bad behavior and we see the consequences of their actions. Without receiving a lecture from parents we learn appropriate behavior.
As an adult storyteller I am often re-learning and telling favorite childhood stories. A funny thing happened; I started seeing all kinds of lessons in the stories that could be applied to the business world. My favorite example is Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” The Emperor is like so many executives I have met, they intimidate those who work for them. Information does not flow freely and eventually the executive finds himself parading around in only his underwear.
I work with all kinds of business people now and try to get them to understand stories are not just for kids. We need to remember these stories, learn from them and apply them to our current situation. Business people see the tales as frivolous and a waste of time, they want to learn from “real” business situations experienced by colleagues so that they can learn from them. So, you tell them the story of the Emperor and change his title to Executive Vice President. The tailors become consultants selling services, the courtiers are direct reports. The consultants fool the EVP and although the employees see it they fear the EVP’s reaction if they speak out against the consultants. Eventually the consultants leave town and the EVP finds a huge bill with nothing to show for it.
Did the story really have to change to be accepted? Unfortunately the answer is probably yes and not just because of prejudice (stories are for children’s entertainment). Something we have in kindergarten that is destroyed in many of as we go through school is an imagination. Business people lack the imagination to see how the lesson in The Emperor’s New Clothes can be applied to them.
More on imagination in business on future posts.
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