Status Updates From Stories Sell: Storyworthy S...

A great storyteller creates a movie in the mind of the audience.

A story, at its heart, is defined by one of two things: transformation and/or realization. Put in the simplest terms, a story describes or embodies change over time.

Change also requires a shift in culture, and cultural change requires new traditions, ceremonies, celebrations, and the consistent reinforcement of new values. It also requires a leader who will relentlessly insist upon the sustainability and growth of the new culture. If this does not happen, culture will also revert back to the mean.

Our most important moments of realization and transformation are oftentimes invisible to those around us. We change on the inside, and so often, there is no outward sign that the moment is happening.

Time does not fly by. We simply fail to acknowledge it. It passes before our eyes, unrecognized, unnoticed, and unremembered. We toss away our life into the trash bin of forgetfulness, disregard, and distraction.

it’s the smaller, more relatable stories that audiences love best. There’s little in the horror of my head-on collision for an audience to connect or relate to. Little that will ring true in the minds of listeners. Little that changes the way an audience sees themselves or the world around them. The smaller stories, it turns out, are better because they can accomplish all these goals and much more.

The more stories you have at your disposal, the more likely you will have the right story at the right moment. The more stories you have, the greater your chances to connect, convince, entertain, and change the world.

When someone tells us a story, our brain produces three chemicals:
Dopamine, which enhances our focus, motivation, and memory
Oxytocin, which increases feelings of generosity, trust, and bonding
Endorphins, which relieve stress and create an overall sense of well-being.

If you want to be remembered, and if you want to be memorable, you must tell stories.

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
— Neale Donald Walsch, Conversations with God