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Paul Ortega

Ortega

Entrepreneurship

2/25/2021

Story Telling

Challenge and Selection:    The tool I chose was storytelling, I believe it is a great way to inspire and set apart our

differences and bring empathy to those who are struggling. Storytelling has helped me realize  that others go through similar struggles and sometimes worse than my own, which helps put my  problems in perspective. I also enjoy storytelling to uplift others and give them a new standpoint  from my eyes. I use this approach in many different settings, but mainly in work situations. In  these work situations, I have worked with many different people from all walks of life. Because  of this, it was important to utilize the right story at the right time to convey a message. In every  job I have held, there have been many stories told and many that are forgotten. Many of us have  now begun to understand the struggles of our coworkers and realize the similarities many of us  have which helped us come together as a team. These stories ranged from hilarious, depressing,  to inspiring. Storytelling helps energize my workplace and bring a more open environment. It  was a great way to “walk a mile in their shoes” as the saying goes. Immersive storytelling can  put you in a different world and can be a great learning experience. Everyone has their own  stories of battles and triumphs they have had in their life; it is about finding the right story to tell  at the right time to inspire.

Application:    Recently, at my current position at the campus bookstore, I had a coworker confide in

me. She was very stressed about her future as a teacher and overwhelmed by her current life  situation. She just recently had a breakup and was noticeably down at work. This has not only  affected her mental health but also her overall performance on the job. She has shown up late  almost every day the past few weeks. In addition to the relationship issues, she has worries if she  has the skills and abilities for her future career. This was an opportune time for me to implement  storytelling. In this situation, I used storytelling to help her understand that she can get through  these difficult situations and that I empathize with her because I have been in her situation. I had  also gone through a terrible breakup while in college, and it destroyed my mental health as well  as my performance at not only work, and school, but also daily life. During this time in my life, I  could not even manage to get out of bed those first few days. I struggled to take care of myself  and get food. I lost 10 pounds in one week. I did not want to do anything and wanted to be left  alone. I knew this was a toxic cycle that I needed to stop. I’m afraid I’m seeing some of the same  issues when I talk to her. I gave her some advice on how I got out of this funk, I told her that  would finally help me by surrounding myself with others and just accepting the reality of the

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situation. Once I accepted the reality and realized I did not have to do this alone, it got better. I  started to go out with friends; I focused on learning who I really was. I realized that I was 20  years old and that I had so much life ahead of me. I told her that she is young just like I was and  that if he were the right one it would have worked out. I told her it is okay to feel sad but to also  focus on all the new free time and opportunities now available to her. In my situation, it got  better with time and I expressed how each day that passes is a day you are farther away from that  moment of hurt. I reminded her how young she is and how the right one will surely come.  College is supposed to be one of the best times of your life, and I believe you should enjoy them  with friends and not spend that time looking for a wife/husband. She really appreciated the  advice and she expressed how she is going to try to accept the situation. My coworker had also  had anxiety about her future, specifically, her career. She is planning on being an elementary  school teacher but does not know if she has it in her to be a good teacher. I know how this feels  firsthand as I was a Preschool and kindergarten teacher in Korea. Shortly after my breakup, I  went to Korea to teach English without a degree and had no education or experience regarding  teaching. I was a business student, so I truly felt like I was going in blind. I had never lived in the  country and did not know any Korean. However, despite all this, I ended up doing very well as a  teacher and was voted the best teacher in the center by the students. I told her that she can do  anything she sets her mind to. If I can do it, then I know for a fact that she can do it. I reminded  my coworker of her work ethic and her ability to adapt. I think storytelling in this situation was  very beneficial to her because she can visualize herself when she hears that someone who she  knows with similar struggles has achieved the goals she is pursuing. Better days are ahead for  her and I wanted to make sure she knew that. She was appreciative of the advice and has made  me optimistic of my storytelling abilities.

Insight & Approach:      What I learned from this experience is all someone needs sometimes is hope.

Many of us get down especially in the hard times we are currently in. Hearing uplifting stories  that show that you can overcome your struggles can make a huge difference. I could see in my  coworker’s overall body language that she had been going through some difficult times.  However, I was raised to not get into people’s business, so I waited until I was approached by  her. She approached me on the verge of tears and told me about her struggles. As someone who  had been through a bad breakup, I immediately could empathize. I knew storytelling could be a  powerful tool in this situation, I just had to make sure I applied it right.

After taking this course, I realized that I could have approached her myself. As a fellow

team member, I should care about their welfare and be willing to put forth some effort to help. I  have always enjoyed storytelling but lacked some of the necessary skills to make the story useful  and beneficial to those I told the story. Design thinking helped me in helping my coworker  overcome a struggle. I see this helping me in a big way as I aspire to be in a managerial role at a  company someday. This class will help me learn how to use my storytelling and resources to  help others understand their potential. Design thinking has helped me realize that storytelling is  essential to becoming a good leader and can be useful in all aspects of life.


Quentin 1 Paul Ortega Ortega Entrepreneurship 2/25/2021 Story Telling Challenge and Selection : The tool I chose was storytelling , I believe it is a great way to inspire and set apart our differences and bring empathy to those who are struggling . Storytelling has helped me realize that others go through similar struggles and sometimes worse than my own , which helps put my problems in perspective . I also enjoy storytelling to uplift others and give them a new standpoint from my eyes . I use this approach in many different settings , but mainly in work situations . In these work situations , I have worked with many different people from all walks of life . Because of this , it was important to utilize the right story at the right time to convey a message . In every job I have held , there have been many stories told and many that are forgotten . Many of us have now begun to understand the struggles of our coworkers and realize the similarities many of us have which helped us come together as a team . These stories ranged from hilarious , depressing , to inspiring . Storytelling helps energize my workplace and bring a more open environment . It was a great way to “ walk a mile in their shoes ” as the saying goes . Immersive storytelling can put you in a different world and can be a great learning experience . Everyone has their own stories of battles and triumphs they have had in their life ; it is about finding the right story to tell at the right time to inspire . Application : Recently , at my current position at the campus bookstore , I had a coworker confide in me . She was very stressed about her future as a teacher and overwhelmed by her current life situation . She just recently had a breakup and was noticeably down at work . This has not only affected her mental health but also her overall performance on the job . She has shown up late almost every day the past few weeks . In addition to the relationship issues , she has worries if she has the skills and abilities for her future career . This was an opportune time for me to implement storytelling . In this situation , I used storytelling to help her understand that she can get through these difficult situations and that I empathize with her because I have been in her situation . I had also gone through a terrible breakup while in college , and it destroyed my mental health as well as my performance at not only work , and school , but also daily life . During this time in my life , I could not even manage to get out of bed those first few days . I struggled to take care of myself and get food . I lost 10 pounds in one week . I did not want to do anything and wanted to be left alone . I knew this was a toxic cycle that I needed to stop . I ’m afraid I ’m seeing some of the same issues when I talk to her . I gave her some advice on how I got out of this funk , I told her that would finally help me by surrounding myself with others and just accepting the reality of the Quentin 2 situation . Once I accepted the reality and realized I did not have to do this alone , it got better . I started to go out with friends ; I focused on learning who I really was . I realized that I was 20 years old and that I had so much life ahead of me . I told her that she is young just like I was and that if he were the right one it would have worked out . I told her it is okay to feel sad but to also focus on all the new free time and opportunities now available to her . In my situation , it got better with time and I expressed how each day that passes is a day you are farther away from that moment of hurt . I reminded her how young she is and how the right one will surely come . College is supposed to be one of the best times of your life , and I believe you should enjoy them with friends and not spend that time looking for a wife / husband . She really appreciated the advice and she expressed how she is going to try to accept the situation . My coworker had also had anxiety about her future , specifically , her career . She is planning on being an elementary school teacher but does not know if she has it in her to be a good teacher . I know how this feels firsthand as I was a Preschool and kindergarten teacher in Korea . Shortly after my breakup , I went to Korea to teach English without a degree and had no education or experience regarding teaching . I was a business student , so I truly felt like I was going in blind . I had never lived in the country and did not know any Korean . However , despite all this , I ended up doing very well as a teacher and was voted the best teacher in the center by the students . I told her that she can do anything she sets her mind to . If I can do it , then I know for a fact that she can do it . I reminded my coworker of her work ethic and her ability to adapt . I think storytelling in this situation was very beneficial to her because she can visualize herself when she hears that someone who she knows with similar struggles has achieved the goals she is pursuing . Better days are ahead for her and I wanted to make sure she knew that . She was appreciative of the advice and has made me optimistic of my storytelling abilities . Insight & Approach : What I learned from this experience is all someone needs sometimes is hope . Many of us get down especially in the hard times we are currently in . Hearing uplifting stories that show that you can overcome your struggles can make a huge difference . I could see in my coworker ’s overall body language that she had been going through some difficult times . However , I was raised to not get into people ’s business , so I waited until I was approached by her . She approached me on the verge of tears and told me about her struggles . As someone who had been through a bad breakup , I immediately could empathize . I knew storytelling could be a powerful tool in this situation , I just had to make sure I applied it right . After taking this course , I realized that I could have approached her myself . As a fellow team member , I should care about their welfare and be willing to put forth some effort to help . I have always enjoyed storytelling but lacked some of the necessary skills to make the story useful and beneficial to those I told the story . Design thinking helped me in helping my coworker overcome a struggle . I see this helping me in a big way as I aspire to be in a managerial role at a company someday . This class will help me learn how to use my storytelling and resources to help others understand their potential . Design thinking has helped me realize that storytelling is essential to becoming a good leader and can be useful in all aspects of life .