Why Are Most Public Interest Stories so Un-Interesting? Many of our readers work in the nonprofit sector. In my experience, there’s nothing more compelling than storytelling around a cause or issue. Whenever you have someone facing and overcoming big challenges, there’s an interesting story to be told. Yet, you’re often dealing with taboo topics many are uncomfortable discussing: poverty, domestic [...]
“Helping others to reach their potential” is not your life’s mission. Neither is it “to make the world a better place.” Nor is it to “teach others how to grow and transform their lives.” Sorry. I know, I might be upsetting you right now. Just bear with me… The above statements are descriptions of your potential action and impact. But [...]
Michael recaps some tips and strategies from the NCGA Conference.
Join Get Storied for the 2nd Annual Digital Storytelling Challenge produced by TechSoup, Jan 13-31, 2011.
Podcast with Christina Baldwin, discussing the topic: self-reflection as a leadership and storytelling practice.
I’m thrilled to be interviewing my guest Paul Costello, founder of the Center for Narrative Studies and director of New Story Leadership for the Middle East. Paul is one of my earliest mentors in the field. We’ll be discussing a new theology for storytelling in this modern world. Exploring the re-defining boundaries of narrative across time and space, and culture. Paul Costello is currently engaged in the most challenging narrative project of his life.
If you’re a direct marketer or fundraiser, odds are you’re a pretty good storyteller. Except we all know things aren’t measuring up how we’d like them to. What if the cause is more than just a tired economy? Membership rolls are on the decline. Giving patterns are dramatically shifting. And our audience – the donors, members, and customers – are increasingly savvy to spot a sales pitch when they see one.
Change is the new business as usual. When you communicate or frame your change story from a place of anger, fear, or judgment – you’re triggering the reptilian part of the brain in the mind of your audience. We’ve all heard of “fight or flight”, its a basic survival mechanism. Instead of engaging the reptilian brain, connect at the limbic level, the sphere of emotion. Psychologists say there are two basic emotions; fear and love. When your story engages people from a place of love and acceptance, a new kind of relationship is possible.
It’s easy to tell the story of the clients you serve — especially in 2010, if you have a flip video camera, a social media platform and a few juicy questions to ask. Unfortunately, it’s much harder to tell a story with which your donors can identify. Here are a total of 12 questions to help you reinforce the emotional connection and the perceived value of your work.
Deciding who to make the hero is one of the hardest decisions to make. We’re all the hero of our own life story, right? Right. Except if you’re telling a story with an audience or desired outcome in mind, its best to make your audience the hero. Because if you’re audience can see themselves in the story, then you have nothing to sell (and that’s a good thing!). The hero is the central character of any story, and often the narrative is constructed or told through their perspective.
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Phone: 855.467.8679 • Email: michael@getstoried.com
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