You’ll learn
- How stories shape our life and consciousness
- Balancing emotions for storytelling impact
- Key elements for compelling narratives
- Crafting unique stories with creativity
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first KEY POINT
Some stories shape our lives. We may not notice them, but they are waiting for us to find and share them. We grow up with films, cartoons, fairy tales, and books. As we develop, tales become part of our consciousness. We want stories to accompany our lives. Therefore, when someone says they will tell us a story, we have certain expectations; we wait for the beginning, climax, and resolution. If these expectations don't come true, we get disappointed.Some people are afraid to show the power of their words. They feel frustrated when listeners do not burst into applause after each punch, although stories don't always have to make a TED Talks effect. At the same time, others are overly confident about their tales. But true storytelling is about balancing emotions, confidence, and mindfulness. True stories contain fundamental, timeless elements that give them strength. The power of storytelling can influence people, convince, inspire, and prevent them from doing unnecessary things.
Writer Rob Biesenbach lived a double life; he was doing business in the daytime while developing his acting career, rehearsing and auditioning in the evening. He realized that communication is a performance and that he could become a more effective negotiator by combining his two lives and applying his acting skills to business.Biesenbach believes that everyone can tell a good story. This summary will make the storytelling process more transparent for those who underestimate or overestimate their abilities by offering practical advice for writing quality texts. Also:
• You will discover what makes a strong story and see that storytelling is an exact science. You will make your stories work.
• You will become familiar with the universal structure of stories and free them from unnecessary details.
• The summary will show examples of different stories and teach you how to find worthy tales.
• You will learn to use your storytelling skills in various situations, from job interviews to wedding speeches.
second KEY POINT
Stories uniquely affect our brains. Researcher Paul Zak discovered that stories make the brain release oxytocin, a hormone associated with empathy. Other studies have shown that while listening to a story, the brain triggers the same areas as when experiencing an actual event. A good story virtually blurs the lines between storytelling and actual experiences. We subconsciously associate ourselves with the protagonist of the story and place ourselves at its epicenter; our palms sweat, and our heart rate increases — this is our body's feedback.Biesenbach identified six keys to a strong story:
• Emotions. A compelling story evokes an emotional response.
• The story should have a face. People do not remember percentages and statistics, but they will feel a kinship with the character that personifies the issue.
• The stories should connect your listeners with each other and with your brand.
• Stories make us more human. They should remind people of who they are.
• Stories should reiterate the importance of values such as love and care. They should temporarily distract people from their routine existence.
• Show; don't tell. Back up your words with a reliable example.Biesenbach called the violation of the sixth principle “match.com syndrome.” People use similar phrases on dating websites — I am adventurous, or I am smart. But they are ineffective. Instead, share a photo of your white-water rafting trip or share your impressions of the last book you read. The story should indeed reveal the person, not provide another label. Remember the beginning of the movie The Godfather and the way Don Corleone sat calmly and majestically at the head of a large table? It said more than if the film had opened with him stating he was the powerful head of a criminal empire. Therefore, do not say that you are responsible during a job interview. Instead, tell that story where you worked all night to meet a deadline.

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