I’d like to tell you a story there’s a reason that these seven words I’d like
reason that these seven words I’d like
reason that these seven words I’d like to tell you a story are among the most
to tell you a story are among the most
to tell you a story are among the most common suggestions to starting a speech
common suggestions to starting a speech
common suggestions to starting a speech it’s how Steve Jobs started as famous
it’s how Steve Jobs started as famous
it’s how Steve Jobs started as famous commencement address at Stanford it’s
commencement address at Stanford it’s
commencement address at Stanford it’s the reason that so many restaurants
the reason that so many restaurants
the reason that so many restaurants print their origin stories right on the
print their origin stories right on the
print their origin stories right on the menu the reason that so many college
menu the reason that so many college
menu the reason that so many college students will perk up from their cell
students will perk up from their cell
students will perk up from their cell phones when the professor indicates he’s
phones when the professor indicates he’s
phones when the professor indicates he’s about to tell a tale the reason is
about to tell a tale the reason is
about to tell a tale the reason is simple we relate to stories some of the
simple we relate to stories some of the
simple we relate to stories some of the oldest culture that we have is in the
oldest culture that we have is in the
oldest culture that we have is in the form of cave paintings which we believe
form of cave paintings which we believe
form of cave paintings which we believe are not merely decorative but serve as
are not merely decorative but serve as
are not merely decorative but serve as drawings as instructions or stories
drawings as instructions or stories
drawings as instructions or stories oftentimes about animals about those who
oftentimes about animals about those who
oftentimes about animals about those who hunt them about us these are oldest
hunt them about us these are oldest
hunt them about us these are oldest stories and we’ve only gotten better at
stories and we’ve only gotten better at
stories and we’ve only gotten better at telling them we tell stories every
telling them we tell stories every
telling them we tell stories every single day whenever anything interesting
single day whenever anything interesting
single day whenever anything interesting happens the first thing we do is pick up
happens the first thing we do is pick up
happens the first thing we do is pick up our phone and call our friend write a
our phone and call our friend write a
our phone and call our friend write a blog or post on Facebook we relate to
blog or post on Facebook we relate to
blog or post on Facebook we relate to stories it’s how we share our
stories it’s how we share our
stories it’s how we share our experiences how was your day is one of
experiences how was your day is one of
experiences how was your day is one of the most commonly asked questions and
the most commonly asked questions and
the most commonly asked questions and the person asking is usually
the person asking is usually
the person asking is usually disappointed if they get an adjective
disappointed if they get an adjective
disappointed if they get an adjective rather than an anecdote informal
rather than an anecdote informal
rather than an anecdote informal storytelling one of the most famous
storytelling one of the most famous
storytelling one of the most famous examples is Homer’s Odyssey which was
examples is Homer’s Odyssey which was
examples is Homer’s Odyssey which was told orally for dozens of years before
told orally for dozens of years before
told orally for dozens of years before ever being written down at over 12,000
ever being written down at over 12,000
ever being written down at over 12,000 lines long that’s no trivial feet we as
lines long that’s no trivial feet we as
lines long that’s no trivial feet we as a species used to sit around for hours
a species used to sit around for hours
a species used to sit around for hours and listen to minstrels and authors tell
and listen to minstrels and authors tell
and listen to minstrels and authors tell us their tails and we still do modern
us their tails and we still do modern
us their tails and we still do modern storytelling is a billion-dollar
storytelling is a billion-dollar
storytelling is a billion-dollar industry each week the new york times
industry each week the new york times
industry each week the new york times publishes a list of the best-selling
publishes a list of the best-selling
publishes a list of the best-selling books and top grossing movies from the
books and top grossing movies from the
books and top grossing movies from the previous week
previous week
previous week these are our stories our minstrels are
these are our stories our minstrels are
these are our stories our minstrels are named Spielberg and King well it’s true
named Spielberg and King well it’s true
named Spielberg and King well it’s true that the New York Times also releases a
that the New York Times also releases a
that the New York Times also releases a list of the best selling nonfiction
list of the best selling nonfiction
list of the best selling nonfiction books each week it’s rare for a work
books each week it’s rare for a work
books each week it’s rare for a work that isn’t a biography a story of
that isn’t a biography a story of
that isn’t a biography a story of someone’s life to be prominently
someone’s life to be prominently
someone’s life to be prominently featured on that list we crave stories
featured on that list we crave stories
featured on that list we crave stories and stories about famous people as
and stories about famous people as
and stories about famous people as biographies tend to be allow us to
biographies tend to be allow us to
biographies tend to be allow us to relate to those people who might
relate to those people who might
relate to those people who might otherwise seem so untouchable we’re all
otherwise seem so untouchable we’re all
otherwise seem so untouchable we’re all human we’ve had the same experiences
human we’ve had the same experiences
human we’ve had the same experiences unfortunately so many of our stories go
unfortunately so many of our stories go
unfortunately so many of our stories go untold we have times in our lives that
untold we have times in our lives that
untold we have times in our lives that we designate telling stories at weddings
we designate telling stories at weddings
we designate telling stories at weddings at roast at funerals but it shouldn’t be
at roast at funerals but it shouldn’t be
at roast at funerals but it shouldn’t be a thrice of life kind of deal the trope
a thrice of life kind of deal the trope
a thrice of life kind of deal the trope of an aspiring author with half a
of an aspiring author with half a
of an aspiring author with half a manuscript tucked under a mattress is so
manuscript tucked under a mattress is so
manuscript tucked under a mattress is so tried and prevalent because that innate
tried and prevalent because that innate
tried and prevalent because that innate desire to tell stories exist within all
desire to tell stories exist within all
desire to tell stories exist within all of us and we have to capitalize upon
of us and we have to capitalize upon
of us and we have to capitalize upon that we don’t get to tell stories when
that we don’t get to tell stories when
that we don’t get to tell stories when we’re dead so why waste the opportunity
we’re dead so why waste the opportunity
we’re dead so why waste the opportunity when we’re alive no one can learn
when we’re alive no one can learn
when we’re alive no one can learn anything from a man who tells no tales
now more than any other time in history
now more than any other time in history we have tools that allow us to
we have tools that allow us to
we have tools that allow us to communicate with anyone on the planet
communicate with anyone on the planet
communicate with anyone on the planet incredible tools that allow us to share
incredible tools that allow us to share
incredible tools that allow us to share our stories with absolutely anyone and
our stories with absolutely anyone and
our stories with absolutely anyone and we do use those tools but they’re
we do use those tools but they’re
we do use those tools but they’re underutilized instead of stories most
underutilized instead of stories most
underutilized instead of stories most social media is filled with tidbits of
social media is filled with tidbits of
social media is filled with tidbits of news filed down to a bite-size 140
news filed down to a bite-size 140
news filed down to a bite-size 140 characters we aren’t sharing deep
characters we aren’t sharing deep
characters we aren’t sharing deep thoughts and experiences as much as we
thoughts and experiences as much as we
thoughts and experiences as much as we are brief witticisms we’re constantly
are brief witticisms we’re constantly
are brief witticisms we’re constantly seeing updates from people’s lives but
seeing updates from people’s lives but
seeing updates from people’s lives but we know less about them than ever before
we know less about them than ever before
we know less about them than ever before the information we do see a shallow it’s
the information we do see a shallow it’s
the information we do see a shallow it’s superficial the smallest surface little
superficial the smallest surface little
superficial the smallest surface little details that can be shared the smallest
details that can be shared the smallest
details that can be shared the smallest things occasionally we will see a
things occasionally we will see a
things occasionally we will see a facebook status that seems to
facebook status that seems to
facebook status that seems to are all but these are the exceptions
are all but these are the exceptions
are all but these are the exceptions rather than the rule and even these are
rather than the rule and even these are
rather than the rule and even these are censored for public consumption one of
censored for public consumption one of
censored for public consumption one of the most popular Facebook groups with
the most popular Facebook groups with
the most popular Facebook groups with over 17 million likes is humans of New
over 17 million likes is humans of New
over 17 million likes is humans of New York this page features a resident of
York this page features a resident of
York this page features a resident of New York a picture of them and a story
New York a picture of them and a story
New York a picture of them and a story of their life and through just a couple
of their life and through just a couple
of their life and through just a couple hundred words were able to relate to
hundred words were able to relate to
hundred words were able to relate to someone we’ve never met because they’re
someone we’ve never met because they’re
someone we’ve never met because they’re sharing their stories they’re building
sharing their stories they’re building
sharing their stories they’re building their legacy they’re offering us a brief
their legacy they’re offering us a brief
their legacy they’re offering us a brief glimpse into their life a small window
glimpse into their life a small window
glimpse into their life a small window into the world in which we live but like
into the world in which we live but like
into the world in which we live but like I said even these are censored for
I said even these are censored for
I said even these are censored for public consumption think about even the
public consumption think about even the
public consumption think about even the smallest differences between a personal
smallest differences between a personal
smallest differences between a personal story you’d share with a stranger and
story you’d share with a stranger and
story you’d share with a stranger and one you’d share with your best friend or
one you’d share with your best friend or
one you’d share with your best friend or your mother it’s easy to see think for a
your mother it’s easy to see think for a
your mother it’s easy to see think for a moment about the people you know well
moment about the people you know well
moment about the people you know well the people who really truly know you
the people who really truly know you
the people who really truly know you think about the experiences you’ve had
think about the experiences you’ve had
think about the experiences you’ve had together spending time together almost
together spending time together almost
together spending time together almost certainly and sharing experiences about
certainly and sharing experiences about
certainly and sharing experiences about decisions you’ve made people you’ve met
decisions you’ve made people you’ve met
decisions you’ve made people you’ve met that’s how we get to know each other we
that’s how we get to know each other we
that’s how we get to know each other we tell stories at funerals to honor the
tell stories at funerals to honor the
tell stories at funerals to honor the dead and these stories can last for
dead and these stories can last for
dead and these stories can last for generations it’s not just a way to
generations it’s not just a way to
generations it’s not just a way to connect with each other it’s a way to be
connect with each other it’s a way to be
connect with each other it’s a way to be remembered and isn’t that what we all
remembered and isn’t that what we all
remembered and isn’t that what we all want to stave off the inevitability of
want to stave off the inevitability of
want to stave off the inevitability of death for just a little longer they say
death for just a little longer they say
death for just a little longer they say that a person dies two deaths one when
that a person dies two deaths one when
that a person dies two deaths one when they stop breathing and one when their
they stop breathing and one when their
they stop breathing and one when their name is no longer spoken so go extend
name is no longer spoken so go extend
name is no longer spoken so go extend your life tell a story as I said earlier
your life tell a story as I said earlier
your life tell a story as I said earlier storytelling isn’t mostly done in the
storytelling isn’t mostly done in the
storytelling isn’t mostly done in the formal setting every day we tell tales
formal setting every day we tell tales
formal setting every day we tell tales of what we’ve seen or heard how we came
of what we’ve seen or heard how we came
of what we’ve seen or heard how we came to know what we know believe what we
to know what we know believe what we
to know what we know believe what we believe our act how we act in short
believe our act how we act in short
believe our act how we act in short story telling helps others understand
story telling helps others understand
story telling helps others understand exactly who we are and why but the
exactly who we are and why but the
exactly who we are and why but the storyteller has certain obligations to
storyteller has certain obligations to
storyteller has certain obligations to the narrative you notice i say
the narrative you notice i say
the narrative you notice i say storyteller and not narrator before i
storyteller and not narrator before i
storyteller and not narrator before i delve into exactly what these
delve into exactly what these
delve into exactly what these obligations are i want to establish a
obligations are i want to establish a
obligations are i want to establish a firm distinction between these two
firm distinction between these two
firm distinction between these two entities a narrator is objective he
entities a narrator is objective he
entities a narrator is objective he staged the truth of what happened
staged the truth of what happened
staged the truth of what happened nothing more nothing less an unreliable
nothing more nothing less an unreliable
nothing more nothing less an unreliable narrator is actually a storyteller he
narrator is actually a storyteller he
narrator is actually a storyteller he includes a bit of himself in every
includes a bit of himself in every
includes a bit of himself in every telling and may shift things so that he
telling and may shift things so that he
telling and may shift things so that he comes out looking a little better it’s
comes out looking a little better it’s
comes out looking a little better it’s this second persona that of a
this second persona that of a
this second persona that of a storyteller which carries the
storyteller which carries the
storyteller which carries the responsibilities and burdens associated
responsibilities and burdens associated
responsibilities and burdens associated with the act of story telling a story
with the act of story telling a story
with the act of story telling a story teller should never lie to lie is to
teller should never lie to lie is to
teller should never lie to lie is to alter the narrative or even the truth of
alter the narrative or even the truth of
alter the narrative or even the truth of what happened instead the storyteller
what happened instead the storyteller
what happened instead the storyteller can gloss over certain details it’s one
can gloss over certain details it’s one
can gloss over certain details it’s one thing to say that while I was on a date
thing to say that while I was on a date
thing to say that while I was on a date with my girlfriend a woman burst into
with my girlfriend a woman burst into
with my girlfriend a woman burst into the restaurant calling me Jim and
the restaurant calling me Jim and
the restaurant calling me Jim and claiming to be my wife it’s quite
claiming to be my wife it’s quite
claiming to be my wife it’s quite another thing to say that my name is Jim
another thing to say that my name is Jim
another thing to say that my name is Jim and she is in fact my wife this one bit
and she is in fact my wife this one bit
and she is in fact my wife this one bit of information dramatically changes that
of information dramatically changes that
of information dramatically changes that story but it’s not a lie information
story but it’s not a lie information
story but it’s not a lie information like this background information isn’t
like this background information isn’t
like this background information isn’t known to all parties and that disparity
known to all parties and that disparity
known to all parties and that disparity in knowledge is why telling the same
in knowledge is why telling the same
in knowledge is why telling the same story from multiple points of view is
story from multiple points of view is
story from multiple points of view is such a popular trope it’s featured in
such a popular trope it’s featured in
such a popular trope it’s featured in countless movies and TV shows and books
countless movies and TV shows and books
countless movies and TV shows and books including the best-selling game of
including the best-selling game of
including the best-selling game of thrones series hearing different
thrones series hearing different
thrones series hearing different characters reacts to information like
characters reacts to information like
characters reacts to information like other characters and other actions can
other characters and other actions can
other characters and other actions can dramatically change how those actions
dramatically change how those actions
dramatically change how those actions are received to the audience in addition
are received to the audience in addition
are received to the audience in addition to glossing over details the storyteller
to glossing over details the storyteller
to glossing over details the storyteller gets to decide what background
gets to decide what background
gets to decide what background information to include it’s the little
information to include it’s the little
information to include it’s the little boy who claims that his sister hit him
boy who claims that his sister hit him
boy who claims that his sister hit him but neglects to mention that he had
but neglects to mention that he had
but neglects to mention that he had first stolen her snack it’s the state of
first stolen her snack it’s the state of
first stolen her snack it’s the state of friendships of politics of treaties
friendships of politics of treaties
friendships of politics of treaties these are all things that the narrator
these are all things that the narrator
these are all things that the narrator should mention but the storyteller need
should mention but the storyteller need
should mention but the storyteller need not with a storyteller the audience
not with a storyteller the audience
not with a storyteller the audience should understand that they aren’t
should understand that they aren’t
should understand that they aren’t getting the whole story because the
getting the whole story because the
getting the whole story because the older dodge rings true there are
older dodge rings true there are
older dodge rings true there are multiple sides to every story and we
multiple sides to every story and we
multiple sides to every story and we each only see one small part of that
each only see one small part of that
each only see one small part of that it’s a common trope in crime fiction
it’s a common trope in crime fiction
it’s a common trope in crime fiction including detective fiction from
including detective fiction from
including detective fiction from multiple characters to be interrogated
multiple characters to be interrogated
multiple characters to be interrogated about an event and they each tell the
about an event and they each tell the
about an event and they each tell the same story adding in little clues and as
same story adding in little clues and as
same story adding in little clues and as those stories get told they add up like
those stories get told they add up like
those stories get told they add up like puzzle pieces painting one greater
puzzle pieces painting one greater
puzzle pieces painting one greater picture the truth of what actually
picture the truth of what actually
picture the truth of what actually happened and that’s what all stories aim
happened and that’s what all stories aim
happened and that’s what all stories aim to do because there is only one true
to do because there is only one true
to do because there is only one true narrative what actually happened and we
narrative what actually happened and we
narrative what actually happened and we each only see one small part of that
each only see one small part of that
each only see one small part of that we’re all characters in the stories that
we’re all characters in the stories that
we’re all characters in the stories that go on around us and we can make those
go on around us and we can make those
go on around us and we can make those same parallels crime fiction and our own
same parallels crime fiction and our own
same parallels crime fiction and our own lives it’s been said that there are only
lives it’s been said that there are only
lives it’s been said that there are only seven unique plots but we’ve taken those
seven unique plots but we’ve taken those
seven unique plots but we’ve taken those seven plots and told millions of stories
seven plots and told millions of stories
seven plots and told millions of stories we’ve taken them to every corner of the
we’ve taken them to every corner of the
we’ve taken them to every corner of the globe to imaginary realms to outer space
globe to imaginary realms to outer space
globe to imaginary realms to outer space in the depths of the oceans but it’s not
in the depths of the oceans but it’s not
in the depths of the oceans but it’s not those same seven plots that keep us
those same seven plots that keep us
those same seven plots that keep us coming back we’re enthralled by the plot
coming back we’re enthralled by the plot
coming back we’re enthralled by the plot sure but when you boil away the details
sure but when you boil away the details
sure but when you boil away the details we’ve heard it before what keeps us
we’ve heard it before what keeps us
we’ve heard it before what keeps us coming back is the characters in each
coming back is the characters in each
coming back is the characters in each and how they react to the twists and the
and how they react to the twists and the
and how they react to the twists and the turns stories are made of characters
turns stories are made of characters
turns stories are made of characters imagine for a moment the lead character
imagine for a moment the lead character
imagine for a moment the lead character from your favorite TV show replace her
from your favorite TV show replace her
from your favorite TV show replace her with the lead character from your
with the lead character from your
with the lead character from your favorite movie how does each one change
favorite movie how does each one change
favorite movie how does each one change I imagine the difference isn’t
I imagine the difference isn’t
I imagine the difference isn’t negligible because stories are made of
negligible because stories are made of
negligible because stories are made of characters and as I said we’re all
characters and as I said we’re all
characters and as I said we’re all characters in the stories that go on
characters in the stories that go on
characters in the stories that go on around us in the stories that we tell
around us in the stories that we tell
around us in the stories that we tell and the stories that other people tell
and the stories that other people tell
and the stories that other people tell about us but we’re also more than that
about us but we’re also more than that
about us but we’re also more than that we don’t just live in those stories we
we don’t just live in those stories we
we don’t just live in those stories we live in the narrative and we have the
live in the narrative and we have the
live in the narrative and we have the opportunity to be more than just
opportunity to be more than just
opportunity to be more than just characters we can be storytellers we can
characters we can be storytellers we can
characters we can be storytellers we can influence not only how we’re remembered
influence not only how we’re remembered
influence not only how we’re remembered but how those around us are remembered
but how those around us are remembered
but how those around us are remembered but it’s up to us to tell those tales so
but it’s up to us to tell those tales so
but it’s up to us to tell those tales so go tell your story tell a personal bit
go tell your story tell a personal bit
go tell your story tell a personal bit of information share a story from your
of information share a story from your
of information share a story from your life with anyone who will listen build
life with anyone who will listen build
life with anyone who will listen build your legacy and while you’re at it truly
your legacy and while you’re at it truly
your legacy and while you’re at it truly start to listen for the stories of those
start to listen for the stories of those
start to listen for the stories of those around you thank you
around you thank you
around you thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment