Reflection  –  Storytelling

Challenge   &   Selection    At   the   best   of   times,   the   problems   of   storytelling—of   how   stories   are   told,   of   who   gets   to   tell   their   story   and   to   whom,   of   how   storytellers   are   heard   and   interpreted,   of   why   people   tell   and   listen   to   stories—are   difficult   enough.   The   performative,   social   and   cultural   dimensions   of   storytelling   and   the   political   and   moral   powers   of   storytelling   are   fraught   with   complications   of   voice,   authority,   interpretation,   meaning,   action,   etc.   When   the   stories   we   are   listening   to   or   telling   are   stories   of   violence,   disruption   and   destruction,   these   problems   are   only   amplified   and   made   more   urgent     Application   Storytelling   is   one   of   the   marketing   world’s  new   darlings.   It’s  a   marketing   strategy   that   has   made   it’s  way   into   everywhere   from  board   rooms   to   mom   and   pop   stores.   Storytelling   is   even   being   hailed   as   the   single   most   powerful   business   skill   for   the   next   decade.   Unfortunately,   storytelling   as   applied   to   business   can   seem   a   bit   lofty   –   more   like   a   concept   than   a   tactic.   That’s  especially   true   if  you’re   not   a   Fortune   500   company   with   a   multi-million   dollar   budget   for   television   commercials.   So   does   storytelling   apply   to   smaller   businesses?   Can   storytelling   be   practical?   In   a   word:   Yes.   Storytelling   is   actually   the   oldest   way   to   deliver   a   message   –   or   to   explain   the   world.   Ancient   peoples   used   storytelling.   The   Bible   uses   storytelling.   Your   uncle   uses   storytelling.   You’re   using   storytelling   for   yourself   and   your   business,   even   if  you   don’t   call   it  exactly   that.Storytelling   can   seem   like   a   lofty,   magical   topic,   but   it’s  actually   one   of   the   simplest,   oldest   ways   to   promote   anything.   You   may   find   you   even   like   it.       Insight   &   Approach    Stories   don’t   only   teach   us   about   other   cultures   or   help   us   improve   our   vocabulary.   Stories   also   teach   us   about   ourselves.   They   tell   us   how   we   can   see   and   understand   one   another,   be   compassionate,   and   love   each   other   better.   This   is   Portman’s  intention.   She   dares   her   industry   to   change   the   social   narrative   by   showing   stories   with   different   and   better   possibilities   than   our   current   reality.     “Tell   a   new   story,”   I   hear   Natalie   Portman   saying   in   my   head   every   time   I   sit  in   front   of   the   computer   with   a   blank   Word   document   staring   at   me.


Reflection – Storytelling Challenge & Selection At the best of times , the problems of storytelling — of how stories are told , of who gets to tell their story and to whom , of how storytellers are heard and interpreted , of why people tell and listen to stories — are difficult enough . The performative , social and cultural dimensions of storytelling and the political and moral powers of storytelling are fraught with complications of voice , authority , interpretation , meaning , action , etc . When the stories we are listening to or telling are stories of violence , disruption and destruction , these problems are only amplified and made more urgent Application Storytelling is one of the marketing world ’s new darlings . It ’s a marketing strategy that has made it ’s way into everywhere from board rooms to mom and pop stores . Storytelling is even being hailed as the single most powerful business skill for the next decade . Unfortunately , storytelling as applied to business can seem a bit lofty – more like a concept than a tactic . That ’s especially true if you ’re not a Fortune 500 company with a multi - million dollar budget for television commercials . So does storytelling apply to smaller businesses ? Can storytelling be practical ? In a word : Yes . Storytelling is actually the oldest way to deliver a message – or to explain the world . Ancient peoples used storytelling . The Bible uses storytelling . Your uncle uses storytelling . You ’re using storytelling for yourself and your business , even if you do n’t call it exactly that . Storytelling can seem like a lofty , magical topic , but it ’s actually one of the simplest , oldest ways to promote anything . You may find you even like it . Insight & Approach Stories do n’t only teach us about other cultures or help us improve our vocabulary . Stories also teach us about ourselves . They tell us how we can see and understand one another , be compassionate , and love each other better . This is Portman ’s intention . She dares her industry to change the social narrative by showing stories with different and better possibilities than our current reality . “ Tell a new story , ” I hear Natalie Portman saying in my head every time I sit in front of the computer with a blank Word document staring at me .