I’ve learned two things during the Great Pause: 1) Heart is the solution to scarcity, and 2) happiness is the path to prosperity.
Working hard, working smart, being consistent, delivering value, are important, sure, but everyone is doing that. It’s hard to differentiate that way.
“Why?” is the differentiator. That comes from the heart. Being “happy” let’s you overcome obstacles to your mission with endless creative energy. It’s not only productive it’s magnetic.
What is the story we tell ourselves? What is the story we tell others? Are they aligned?
If you’re not sure, reach out, we’ll figure it out. What you do after that is up to you.
Consider branding as the way a business stages their story. Instead of a literal stage, the organization’s brand story is “staged” on a website, at an event, on a table top at an expo, in the design of an annual report, and so on.
In theater, when we stage a play we are establishing the world of the play. This accomplishes two things: 1) The world of the play has rules grounded in a belief system and aesthetics. 2) Everything you see, every light, color, sound, prop, and costume is designed to help the actors perform their roles, AND to help the audience fully receive the meaning of the story.
Does your business give enough attention to the world of your brand and how those rules help to connect your performers with your audiences?
If you’re not sure or have questions about the concept, let’s talk.
While stories give a framework or environment for what you are trying to communicate, messages are clear, specific thoughts on what you are seeking to deliver.
What makes your story interesting to others is the picture you paint about what the future looks like when you succeed. Your messaging makes it clear what’s in it for the rest of us when you do. To sum up, stories give context while messages provide a conclusion.
Appropriate messaging is needed to support your storytelling. If you’re interested in learning more about the difference between your story and your messaging, reach out and schedule a 15 minute phone call.
What evolutionary purpose does storytelling provide that has helped humans survive and thrive on Earth?
The survival mechanism that stories provide is as a delivery system for meaning. What does it mean to be human according to your tribe? And how to live those shared values. Humans needed cooperation, tom live in family and tribal groups, to survive. Stories showed how. Stories helped humans to survive.
Pre-history, humans looked at the sky with awe and wonder and made meaning from the stars. Connected them into the shape of animals and archetypes, and gave us mythology.
Mythology is the most powerful form of storytelling.
American mythogy is compelling. George Washington, father of our country, could not tell a lie. Abraham Lincoln, as a clerk, walked for miles to give a customer her change, a single penny. And the frontier, and the wild west, and world wars, and industry! We explore, we extract, we erect!
The earliest humans looked to the sky. Today we look at our phones.
Once you realize our mythology no longer protects us from danger or holds us together, we then look elsewhere. We find meaning in nature. We make meaning in small gestures of kindness to each other. And many, according to box office numbers, look to MARVEL. Yes, the comics. Larger than life characters, fighting epic battles, overcoming enormous obstacles, for the highest stakes imaginable. Avengers: Engame had us looking up into the big screen cosmos and asking the same question that our ancestors asked staring at the Milky Way–what makes being human worth the struggle and the loss?
What’s you story? Is it clear what you stand for? Are the stakes high enough? While human civilizations are much advanced, humans remain tribal.
If you don’t know what your story is or if it connects, let’s talk. Your ability to be inspirational, or even memorable to your clients or donors might hinge on it.
The American story is being rewritten as we speak. Change your story before the story changes you.
A nonprofit agency was struggling to make stories out of data they they captured for their annual impact assessment report. One statistic–1 in 5 children can’t read–was the basis of a story they wanted me to help them with.
Statistics need context. A story needs a protagonist. When in doubt, or as a story prompt, try the journalistic, WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, and WHY.
Sally came home crying when her friends at school made fun of her because she can’t read.
There was more to weaving data into story for this agency, of course, but you get the idea. A story, especially a nonprofit story, is best told from the point of view of those you serve. If you’re not sure why this matters or how to accomplish this let’s meet for coffee or chat by phone.
Communication takes place within the other person.
