Comments on: Why It's All About Stories

By: @scottrcrawford

@scottrcrawford — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:03:14 +0000

And at the end, just to seal the deal, they put you in a plot.

By: Suzemuse

Suzemuse — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:04:54 +0000

@Ari: I think it has to be different for each person/organization – because it’s dependent on what impact they are trying to have on their audience.

By: Ari Herzog

Ari Herzog — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 01:39:53 +0000

What kind of story are you telling? A biography? Autobiography? Profile? Essay? Commentary? Or is your story type different for each person and organization you tell it? Ari Herzog’s last blog post..Learning from Conversations

By: Tim Jahn

Tim Jahn — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 01:07:50 +0000

I’ve always been of the mindset that it’s not the tools that matter the most but rather the concepts and stories beneath.

There’s definitely more effective ways of telling stories and some tools work better than others. And once in awhile, it’s the tool that blows the audience away rather than the story.

Most of the time though, the story is what moves your audience and is what your audience remembers.

By: Leah

Leah — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 22:19:41 +0000

Yes, yes and YES! It IS about storytelling. And yes, Danny Brown, a master craftsman does need to know how to use the tools, but -----what I see 90% of the time is talk about tools - with no talk of audience, strategy or story. Producers, especially, need both. Even so, if you know what story you want to tell, it's not that hard to connect with others who can help with tools, if needed. I say, start with the goal of the story, then fill in with tools accordingly. Leah’s last blog post..Ready for Clients that Want the “Obama Approach?”

By: Danny Brown

Danny Brown — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 21:52:34 +0000

I think there can be a happy medium, It’s definitely about the story, but very often the tool will “make” the story.

Think about the pictures on Twitter when the pilot landed in the Hudson. Or the worker that was sacked for taking a sickie from work and then boasting about hungover he was on his Facebook status.

These wouldn’t have made half the news they did if it wasn’t for the fact that both showed the power of the tools in question.

So yes, it’s about the story – but a master crafstman knows how to mix that with the tools.

Danny Brown’s last blog post..Talking Twitter with CityNews Toronto

By: Jon Swanson

Jon Swanson — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 17:27:17 +0000

Susan, I agree.

What we say:
[looking at Fran] “The other day Jim was telling me about a guy who…[to Jim] was it in your post, no, it was a email…no you were telling me when we were driving. That’s it. [to Fran] anyway, Jim was telling me about a guy who went fishing and…”

What we (hope) don’t say:
[looking at Fran] “The other day Jim had the most amazing Facebook status. I have no idea what it was, but I remember it was amazing.”

Jon Swanson’s last blog post..a story in search of a moral

By: euonymous

euonymous — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 14:36:16 +0000

I like the way you think!

By: Bailey

Bailey — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 12:50:53 +0000

I love this post, it’s so exactly true. Beyond storytelling its also important to have a story that is substantive and compelling.

I work with more than a few folks who think its all about putting up gates to content, or if we follow the formula outlined in some business book we’ll all be Bill Gates by next quarter. Thing about that is, they never see the results because they don’t actually have anything to say. The content isn’t worth gating, and/or when they speak they sound like an inspirational quote-a-day calendar.

I find the same types of people on Twitter 2/3 of their posts are quotations or top ten lists. Or posts that are about having “authentic” communication and then stop there. Like we’re all a bunch of hyped up, super positive, inspired, list making Buddhas.

I think you’re setting the bar too high with “real work,” I’d settle for hearing about ANY work. Or even the laundry if it saved me from the next Zig Ziglar.

By: Angelina

Angelina — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 12:42:37 +0000

Love it! When sharing our story, we're really sharing a real aspect of our being, whereas, telling what we do is really mechanical. Besides we love to hear stories, it is in our nature. Now, I got to think what is my story... Angelina’s last blog post..The More the Merrier