Example Reflection – Storytelling

Challenge

I am a self-published author and launching a motivational self help book titled “Unleash  Your Creative Self”. The book provides essential tools that help my readers re-connect with their inborn creative spark.

My challenge lies in an internal obstacle many of us face: To overcome the fear of being  visible online. Especially when it comes to sharing my vulnerabilities and weaknesses.  Firstly because revealing my vulnerable self and struggles in life comes at the risk of  shame. And what is even more crucial when it comes to marketing, opening up about my  weaknesses and failures may imply the risk of not being perceived as an expert. Moreover,  publically presenting myself by sharing the struggles I have gone through in life could  come across as a victim story, and too much of that aspect may scare off potential readers.  As there is an inflationary use of stories in which storytellers describe themselves as former victims of challenging life cirumstances who then turned into heroes, potential readers  may be oversaturated by stories according to the principle “from zero to hero”.

Selection

“The king is dead. The queen is dead” is a factual report. “The king died. The queen died  from a broken heart” is a story. I came across storytelling in my Journalism Studies, but I  had never implemented the tool thus far. So I consider this example reflection the  opportunity to do so. As I have been told to be an entertaining storyteller from my early  childhood on and even more so, as I am selling books, storytelling makes perfect sense as  the tool of my choice. To me, storytelling is the most promising way to make my readers  anticipate my book with pleasure and excitement, and connect at an emotional level.  That effect is granted to the hormones a brilliant storyteller inflicts in his audience or  readership, such as oxytocine, dopamine, and endorphines.  Video lecture reference: “The magical science of storytelling”, David JP Phillips,  TEDxStockholm.

Application

The story I tell goes as follows: For an overall period of ten years, I traveled the world by  cargoship. Once I joined the ship in Southern Spain. The Captain had told me the ship was  going to go to Antwerp, Netherlands. But the schedule changed, and instead of going to  Antwerp, the ship with me on board went to South America and the Caribbean. In Panama  Canal, I got on the ship by climbing up the board wall over a pilote ladder that was moving  freely, and the white sharks who hadn't had dinner gnashing their teeth underneath me.  When we left Brazil with the intention to travel to Russia, the ship suddenly stood still in  the middle of the ocean. I spent several nights in the most dangerous of pirate areas and in  front of a prison island – and we were running out of food, despite the tons of Tuna fish we had stored in the hatches, and some packs of instant asparagus soup.  When traveling the world by cargoship, I literally never knew where I would end up. The  same holds true when you find yourself sitting in front of a client's briefing in an  advertising agency, and you are supposed to fill a blank page with the most innovative

ideas under enormous time pressure.  The moral of my story: Cargoship travel taught me to stay comfortable in the face of  unpredictability. That is the basis of creativity. And creativity is what I teach.  So the story I tell my potential readers delivers the emotional justification that builds my  credibilty, whereas my being a trained copywriter with 15+ years of experience is the  rational explanation.  I implement my story as a speaker on stage, prior to my readings in bookstores, in online  videos, and in webinars. It proved to be effective as my audiences gave me the feedback  they perceived my story to be captivating, and my emotional story along with my rational  reasoning made me a credible expert in their eyes.

Insight

The insight I gained by conducting storytelling is that the storytelling process is unilateral,  while there is a general trend towards co-creation, which is multilateral.  Moreover, opening up to my online audience and letting my vulnerabilities show is key  when it comes to creating an authentic personal brand. It is imperative when building a  relationship with my audience and readership. It provides value to my readers, as it gives  them faith on their path of empowerment.

Storytelling also contains the aspect of uncertainty and unpredictabilty stressed by Sonia De La Fuente, as it comes at the risk that my readership or audience does not buy into my story.

Bearing in mind that no breakthrough or disruption ever evolved from a merely analytical  thinking process, and no analytical thinking process can prevent us from facing unpleasant responses on the internet, the risk of being visible and vulnerable also holds the  opportunity of success. Revealing my authentic self is a way to get my readers engaged at  an emotional level, and thus in building a relationship. A deep relationship between my  readers and me is profoundly important, as my book is supposed to impact them on a  deeper level, and eventually even change their lives for the better. And as we can tell from  relationships in our private lives, getting closer requires opening up to your significant  other.

Collaborative creation could turn out to be an important factor when it comes to creating  more pleasant business environments in which employees experience reduced anxiety,  which favors creative breakthroughs.

Approach

As a result of the insight I gained, next time I would invite my potential readers into the  creation process at an early stage. In my social media accounts and in interactive webinars, I would encourage my readership to share in what areas of creativity they desire guidance.  Furthermore, I would invite experts from various fields of creativity, such as acting  coaches, painters, and photographers into my bookwriting process. That way, a maximum  of value co-creation is guaranteed. It implies a high probability that my book meets my  readers' expectations, as it is a customer-centered approach far from ethnographic data  and spreadsheets .  The experts who contributed their expertise, will want to purchase my book as well, and  there is a chance that I profit from their networks.  I would raise awareness for my book project and for my involving both experts and readers into the creation process by letting it all happen in public – on my social media accounts.


Example Reflection – Storytelling Challenge I am a self - published author and launching a motivational self help book titled “ Unleash Your Creative Self ” . The book provides essential tools that help my readers re - connect with their inborn creative spark . My challenge lies in an internal obstacle many of us face : To overcome the fear of being visible online . Especially when it comes to sharing my vulnerabilities and weaknesses . Firstly because revealing my vulnerable self and struggles in life comes at the risk of shame . And what is even more crucial when it comes to marketing , opening up about my weaknesses and failures may imply the risk of not being perceived as an expert . Moreover , publically presenting myself by sharing the struggles I have gone through in life could come across as a victim story , and too much of that aspect may scare off potential readers . As there is an inflationary use of stories in which storytellers describe themselves as former victims of challenging life cirumstances who then turned into heroes , potential readers may be oversaturated by stories according to the principle “ from zero to hero ” . Selection “ The king is dead . The queen is dead ” is a factual report . “ The king died . The queen died from a broken heart ” is a story . I came across storytelling in my Journalism Studies , but I had never implemented the tool thus far . So I consider this example reflection the opportunity to do so . As I have been told to be an entertaining storyteller from my early childhood on and even more so , as I am selling books , storytelling makes perfect sense as the tool of my choice . To me , storytelling is the most promising way to make my readers anticipate my book with pleasure and excitement , and connect at an emotional level . That effect is granted to the hormones a brilliant storyteller inflicts in his audience or readership , such as oxytocine , dopamine , and endorphines . Video lecture reference : “ The magical science of storytelling ” , David JP Phillips , TEDxStockholm . Application The story I tell goes as follows : For an overall period of ten years , I traveled the world by cargoship . Once I joined the ship in Southern Spain . The Captain had told me the ship was going to go to Antwerp , Netherlands . But the schedule changed , and instead of going to Antwerp , the ship with me on board went to South America and the Caribbean . In Panama Canal , I got on the ship by climbing up the board wall over a pilote ladder that was moving freely , and the white sharks who had n't had dinner gnashing their teeth underneath me . When we left Brazil with the intention to travel to Russia , the ship suddenly stood still in the middle of the ocean . I spent several nights in the most dangerous of pirate areas and in front of a prison island – and we were running out of food , despite the tons of Tuna fish we had stored in the hatches , and some packs of instant asparagus soup . When traveling the world by cargoship , I literally never knew where I would end up . The same holds true when you find yourself sitting in front of a client 's briefing in an advertising agency , and you are supposed to fill a blank page with the most innovative ideas under enormous time pressure . The moral of my story : Cargoship travel taught me to stay comfortable in the face of unpredictability . That is the basis of creativity . And creativity is what I teach . So the story I tell my potential readers delivers the emotional justification that builds my credibilty , whereas my being a trained copywriter with 15 + years of experience is the rational explanation . I implement my story as a speaker on stage , prior to my readings in bookstores , in online videos , and in webinars . It proved to be effective as my audiences gave me the feedback they perceived my story to be captivating , and my emotional story along with my rational reasoning made me a credible expert in their eyes . Insight The insight I gained by conducting storytelling is that the storytelling process is unilateral , while there is a general trend towards co - creation , which is multilateral . Moreover , opening up to my online audience and letting my vulnerabilities show is key when it comes to creating an authentic personal brand . It is imperative when building a relationship with my audience and readership . It provides value to my readers , as it gives them faith on their path of empowerment . Storytelling also contains the aspect of uncertainty and unpredictabilty stressed by Sonia De La Fuente , as it comes at the risk that my readership or audience does not buy into my story . Bearing in mind that no breakthrough or disruption ever evolved from a merely analytical thinking process , and no analytical thinking process can prevent us from facing unpleasant responses on the internet , the risk of being visible and vulnerable also holds the opportunity of success . Revealing my authentic self is a way to get my readers engaged at an emotional level , and thus in building a relationship . A deep relationship between my readers and me is profoundly important , as my book is supposed to impact them on a deeper level , and eventually even change their lives for the better . And as we can tell from relationships in our private lives , getting closer requires opening up to your significant other . Collaborative creation could turn out to be an important factor when it comes to creating more pleasant business environments in which employees experience reduced anxiety , which favors creative breakthroughs . Approach As a result of the insight I gained , next time I would invite my potential readers into the creation process at an early stage . In my social media accounts and in interactive webinars , I would encourage my readership to share in what areas of creativity they desire guidance . Furthermore , I would invite experts from various fields of creativity , such as acting coaches , painters , and photographers into my bookwriting process . That way , a maximum of value co - creation is guaranteed . It implies a high probability that my book meets my readers ' expectations , as it is a customer - centered approach far from ethnographic data and spreadsheets . The experts who contributed their expertise , will want to purchase my book as well , and there is a chance that I profit from their networks . I would raise awareness for my book project and for my involving both experts and readers into the creation process by letting it all happen in public – on my social media accounts .