The Ferris Bueller Guide to Smarter Storytelling
There’s a wonderful scene in the classic American ’80s film, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, that holds the key to smarter storytelling.
stories
An Easy Formula for Unlocking the Power of Storytelling
(A version of this post originally ran as a guest post on the Spin Sucks blog.) Study after study points to the power of storytelling to transform our communications, help us move and persuade audiences and get more of what we want out of life. I find people are either totally intimidated by the notion of … Read more
How to Find and Shape Better Stories
Today I’m guest blogging over at the estimable Spin Sucks blog. So click on over for the story of Estela and the Candy Factory and my Easy Formula for Unlocking the Power of Stories. And if you’re interested in marketing, communications and social media, it’s a great blog to add to your feed!
This Is Your Brain On Stories
I consider certain truths to be self evident. Like the power of stories to move and persuade people. So I’m surprised when I have to justify this principle to someone. A while back I was interviewed by a grad student doing research and he wanted to know what facts and evidence I use to support … Read more
A Smart Lesson from a Dead Company
They say dead men tell no tales. But dead companies do. And not all those tales are cautionary. At first glance, you might not think much of the old Montgomery Ward headquarters building in Chicago. But its design holds a powerful lesson. And not just for architects — for anybody. Why are the corners blocked … Read more
To Tell a Good Story, You Have to Lie
The reason most peoples’ stories are hard to listen to is that they have trouble divorcing themselves from the facts of their everyday lives. They’re slavishly devoted to chronology and detail. Sometimes, to tell a good story, you have to tell a lie or two. Not big ones. You shouldn’t make up events and characters … Read more
Five Reasons Your Stories Put People to Sleep
Most of us know what goes into a compelling story. Relatable characters, dramatic conflict, high stakes. But sometimes the difference between a well-told story and one that puts listeners into a coma is not so much what you put into is as what you leave out. After all, God may be in the details, but not … Read more