Harvey Mackay's Column

Harvey Mackay's column is included in the weekly Hartford Business Journal. I am a faithful reader because he always offers great insight and ends with a moral. His December 15th column really got my interest. Let me quote his opening statement "Whenever I come across a parable - or any little story - that can easily illustrate a point I wish to make, I love to use it." He then proceeded to tell a story of a very clever rabbit outwitting many other animals in the forest. The wise owl sums up the story with the moral, "It doesn't matter how stupid your thesis is, as long as you have the right advisor."

More than once as I led a story workshop for businesses I was asked to use only "business" story examples or I might lose the interst of the audience. I would not be taken seriously. What could a folk tale offer? Plenty! My favorite example is the Emperor's New Clothes. If you forgot the story take a quick read and think about how it demonstrates the principle of a leader who doesn't want to hear bad news and gets a reputation for "shooting the messenger."

Too often business people overlook the power of good story telling in communications. Story telling is seen as entertainment for children. Let's all learn from Harvey Mackay and learn to tell great stories to help make our message memorable. Include the story even if it is a folk tale. Who says you can't entertain and educate at the same time.

Peter Pan

I sit here on this holiday weekend watching Peter Pan remembering how important it is to have a storyteller. Peter Pan asks Wendy to come to Neverland with him so that she can tell stories to the lost boys. I had forgotten that she also hung out with Hook for awhile so that she could tell stories to the pirates. The pirates are all supposedly adults and sat totally enthralled with Wendy's stories. The final battle is raging and Hook takes Wendy aside and assures her that there is still room for a storyteller. She rejects his offer and the battle continues.

It makes me smile watching this. It also makes me wonder when we as a culture decided that storytelling was only for children. Adults love stories too. It is too bad that there are so few venues for entertaining adults. It is encouraging though to see many businesses recognizing the importance of story in marketing. Storytellers are important to your marketing message. If you can't tell a good story find someone who can help.

Obama Story collection

I just recently read an old post I got from a listserv I belong to and was quite happy to see that our President Elect is a fan of story. To help him to continue his communication with the American people he is collecting stories from individuals. There is a website (http://change.gov/page/s/yourstory) that allows people to post their stories. The homepage reads:
An American Moment: Your Story
Start right now. Tell us your story in your own words about what this
campaign and this election means to you. Share your hopes for an Obama
Administration and a government for the people.

We all have a story to tell and it seems that someone is listening.

Slow down the Hustle and Bustle

One of my local papers had a story on the book, The Elf on the Shelf. It says that it is a book that will delight children of all ages. I haven't read it yet so I don't know for sure but the article goes on to say that it "enables families to set aside the hustle and bustle of the holidays for a few minutes and spend quality time with ones they love". Books will do that but it is the next line I particularly liked. "Children acquire all the benefits from reading and story comprehension, imagination and role playing, as well as learn the important lessons that good behavior brings just rewards."

This blog is a diversion from stories in business but I thought it was important to include these notes on the importance of story going way back to childhood and the continuing importance for connecting families. If you agree that stories are important for a child's development then doesn't follow that if that is the way we learn as children it is also a great way for adults to learn?

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale and his stories

Recently I received an e-newsletter from Chris Clarke-Epstein. She speaks/teaches on change and always has some good words of wisdom. In this particular issue it wasn't so much the change point that caught my eye but the opening sentences. Chris says that she always liked reading booklets from Dr. Norman Vincet Peale because they started with a story that she enjoyed "never realizing that I was learning a lesson."

That is the beauty of stories, they teach without preaching. We enjoy and learn at the same time. Stories tend to relax us and entertain us which puts us in a great mind for learning.

Stories for Web sites

Recently I reconnected with a high school friend. We chatted briefly about what he is doing now. He mentioned that he does some consulting and was just doing some work on his website when he got hung up on the story he wanted to tell. That's as far as he got, he couldn't think of the story.

Sometimes that happens, talking to someone else can help. They might be able to tell you the story they have heard you tell that made an impression. Or you might find yourself telling the same story over and over again. That's the story I would start to develop for the website. Obviously it means something to you and if it does the passion will come through. Passion on your website is good.

If you need help with your story just start talking to friends and listen to the stories and reactions, you'll find the right one

Gray's Anatomy

Once you start looking for stories they pop up everywhere. This past week on Gray's Anatomy a homeless man was brought in with serious injuries. He was refusing surgery and frustrating the surgeons. Finally one of the doctors asked what his story was. He answered pretty mcuh the same way most people do when asked that question, he said he had no story. The doctor followed it up with that of course he had a story, we all have a story. How true. All of our stories are different but they are important.

Remember we all have stories and they are important to know and share.