how to craft your origin story
TRANSCRIPT
1. why storytelling?
Our brains are wired for story.
How Storytelling Works
The greater the extent of neural coupling between a speaker and
listener, the better the understanding.STEPHENS, SILBERT & HASSON, NEUROSCIENCE INSTITUTE, PRINCETON
The Immersion Effect“The more people feel immersed in a story, the more likely they are to change their beliefs to be more consistent with those expressed in the world of narrative.”
“Reading stories activates neural representations of visual and motor
experiences.”
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
The Simulation HeuristicWe determine the likelihood of an event based on how easy it is to picture the event mentally.
DANIEL KAHNEMAN
what’s the largest inhibitor of imagination?
Data!!!
the most important rule of storytelling:
show, don’t tell.
Aristotle’s Rhetorical TriangleStoryteller (Ethos)
Content (Logos)Audience (Pathos)
CONTEXT
STORY
the most important rule of storytelling (part ii):
your story is the dynamic relationship between you, your audience and your content.
which story should you tell?
which story should you tell are you telling?
2. strategic storytelling for entrepreneurs
An Origin Story suggests your future by explaining your past.
NOW
ORIGIN STORY FUTURE
spiderman’s origin story:• bookish geek orphaned as a child
• raised by Aunt May and Uncle Ben
• bit by a radioactive spider
• builds webbing devices
• becomes wrestler + entertainer
• ignores a thief
• later, the same thief murders Uncle Ben
• learns “with great power comes great responsibility
Basic Origin Story Structure• Once upon a time… • Every day… • But, one day… • Because of that… • Because of that… • Because of that… • Until finally… • And, ever since then…
an origin story:1. tells us where you’ve come from 2. suggests where you’re going 3. illuminates your values 4. answers why? 5. creates more memorable, relatable and
personal sales and marketing
most importantly:6. an origin story is a gateway to intimacy with prospects, colleagues and employees.
Intimacy helps you better understand a problem for more
valuable results.
Intimacy helps you better understand a problem for more
valuable results.
intimacy helps you be more productive.
• reframes “what should I be doing?” to “what could I be doing?”
• improves satisfaction, creativity and collaborative trust
3. how do i craft my origin story?
01STEP
Create source material.
02STEP
Understand the basics of storytelling.
Stories are made of waves of emotional tension and release.
Stories function in character triangles.
Stories are based on emotionally compelling dilemmas.
Stories pose questions at three levels of our reality.
03STEP
Develop your “inner world” question.
04STEP
Design a storytelling prototype.
Basic Origin Story Structure• Once upon a time… • Every day… • But, one day… • Because of that… • Because of that… • Because of that… • Until finally… • And, ever since then…
05STEP
Test & evaluate results.
06STEP
Experiment with style, tone, voice and creative approaches.
4. questions?
5. why now?
Freud’s Universal Dilemma: Freedom and Belonging
COLLECTIVE INDIVIDUAL
YOU
FAMILY
CULTURE
WORK
TECHNOLOGY
What’s the result of forced individuation?
• Loss of Identity • Loneliness • Alienation • Anger • Hopelessness • Sarcasm/Irony • Violence • Addiction
The growth of the Internet will put jobs into three categories:1. People who tell computers what to do.
2. People who do what computers tell them to do.
3. Storytellers who help people cope.
Storytelling Training
Storytelling Consulting
• Leaders
• Sales Teams
• Entrepreneurs
• Data Scientists
• Branding
• Strategic Planning
• Vision/Mission/Values
• Cultural Development
Origin Story
Summary
HOW TO CRAFT YOUR
6. summary
Don’t bore your audience with the facts.
Tell a story that is happening in time and space.
Focus on a choice or turning point.
Focus on a choice or turning point.Create clear, relatable characters.
Focus on a choice or turning point.
Create clear, relatable characters.
Structure your story in the order your audience learns and feels things.
Include the part of your story you’re scared to tell.
Flex your empathy muscles.
