Brian_3_I

Don't get me wrong. I really enjoy reading the stories in this book, but I have reached the point where I realize I'm being preached at. Ms. Simmons is certainly a good storyteller herself, but I think she has become a story evangelist.
This book is still an interesting read, but I find I'm no longer involved in the stories. It's beginning to sound like a story info-mercial from Ron Popeil:
"Try the new and improved Story 2007. It will solve all your personal problems, get you a better job, and bring loved ones back from the grave!"
Stories are great, but it seems like Simmons is suggesting that there is no other way to solve the problem at hand but to tell a story. For instance, when the CEO told the story of the firemen he told the story, and then had to spend just as much time explaining the story, when perhaps the explanation itself would have sufficed.

Tim_Chapter#_3

Chapter 3
The idea that the story is more powerful than the facts makes me think especially considering my background in news. I do agree to the point that good stories can weave facts in amongst the emotion. In journalism, stories can be more important than facts, but the facts that do make their way into the story need to be accurate. When Simmons talks about the story on lying, it struck a chord. What about a white lie? I’d say those don’t have a place in journalism but for other situations may be justified.
The ten illustrations for stories that hit harder than the facts helped me to understand that point. I can think back to supervisors I had that should have learned some of those methods. One in particular come to mind.
The decision was made to institute an office dress code. I had enjoyed wearing polo shirts and khakis, favoring comfort over style. One day the boss gathered all of the workers in a meeting and told us all about the new dress code. Shirts, ties, dress slacks and shoes were the order. Then he said, “Decision final. No discussion.” Wow, I was floored. Here we were enjoying casual Fridays every week and when classes weren’t in session and we were in the searing heat of August, we could even don shorts. Not any more.
I told the supervisor at my next review that he should have at least asked for and listened to my opinion. Sure he could still have made the decision he did, but at least I would have thought he took my views into consideration. You know, make me think I had input into the matter.
After reading Simmons, I think my supervisor could have eased the staffs concerns with a story that illustrated why the dress code was so important to our operation.
After reading this chapter I even used the storytelling techniques with a couple of our students at NewsLink Indiana. It may not have worked as well as the stories in the book, but I think I was able to get my point across without sounding like I was dictating what they should do. I was able to use my past experiences to show them how they might approach a story. We ended up doing just that and I think we all learned from the situation.
I’m enjoying the book and look forward to more examples of how to use storytelling outside of news and entertrainment.

Wellness Institute Update

Hello everyone! A couple of years ago I found myself in the exact same class you are currently in and hopefully you'll come away with the same rewarding experience I did. To make this a win-win-win (thank you Michael Scott) situation for you, myself, and for the Fishers Wellness Institute I'm going to make some admendments to Tuesday's discussion. We are currently in the process of asking superintendents in Delaware County which wellness programs they currently have in their school that they would like to be highlighted. I believe focusing on a program as opposed to a specific school will give you a better opportunity to develop stories that we can then take to parents, other schools, and maybe even State officials in Indianapolis to explain what it is that wellness tries to accomplish and why it is such a worthwhile endeavor. So, I will soon post to you a list of what programs we'd like to have highlighted, and the school that holds that program, plus contact information. At that point we can divide the teams up with a specific program, or you can be the lucky group that does a wellness overview. Please comment on this post if you have any questions or concerns or email me at ctsutterfiel@bsu.edu.

Thanks!!!!!!!

Curt Sutterfield

JOHN B_Chapter 1_I

When I first picked up this book I was sure that it was going to be a crap read, but the 1st chapter really surprised me. I enjoyed the fluidity of the writing style, and it wasn't as boring as I was anticipating. There are several great points made throughout this first chapter, but one that really stuck out most to me was on page 27. "Storytelling is the most valuable skill you can develop to help you influence others." I thought about this line for a long while trying to think of any argument against what was said. Relating to people i feel might be a more important skill, but is it possible to make relations without stories? The author would say no, but I am hesitant to agree. I'll keep thinking on it.

Sarah.A_CHAPTER1-2_I

According to our reading, (Thanks Sam for helping me out- I too, am awaiting the arrival of my book!) “People don’t want more information. They are up to their eyeballs in information. They want faith- faith in you, your goals, your successes, in the story you tell.”

I disagree with this. Personally, I want more information. I totally understand and agree with wanting faith, for meaningful, inspiring stories. However, I also want information. Perhaps it’s trivial, and may not have too much to do with the story, but personally, I enjoy quirky pieces of information that may not directly relate to the storyline. I suppose it also depends on the type of story you are telling, the audience you are aiming for, and even the mood of the audience at the time. I may be alone in this thought.

ErikCrosier_1and2_I

There has always been a way of thinking that there are only a certain number of stories that can be told... and an infinite way of interpreting these basic core stories. This all comes down to basic mythological structure. Look at the works of Joseph Campbell (or interpretations of Campbell's works by Christopher Vogler) for evidence that basic story ideas and character archetypes have always been around.

But I don't think that people should get into the mindset that there are only X amount of stories that can be told.

Yes, there are certain repeating patterns. But to say that there are only a few basic types is a bit absurd. Just because a certain story might fit into a certain pattern does not mean that it is inherently 'unoriginal.'

Therefore I think that this boils down to a repeating problem... categorizing something as visceral as storytelling.

Martin-1-1

Rushing out to buy this book made me realize once again how different this program is from every other program with which I've been involved. I used to spend around $400 on books when I was in Computer Science. Criminal Justice was about half that. Now I'm only having to buy one book. And it only costs $17 new at the BSU bookstore. That is very nice.

As someone who really does want to become a successful writer, it kind of frustrates me to read about how there are only a limited number of stories that one can tell. I want to be innovative. I want to find a new story that's never been told. Yet every single person out there says that its impossible. And a lot of those people are way more creative and inventive than I am. I guess I just have to settle for being original within the boundaries of six paradigms. Its either that or wait for the Singularity and hope that it really mixes things up.

That does make me think. What stories will transhumans tell? Will they still be stuck with the six stories? Is there anything we can do to escape? Let's say we develop the technology for consciousness uploading. Will humans who exist outside their physical bodies, inside of a computer, have new ways of looking at things? Or am I just looking at the situation the wrong way? Maybe I shouldn't feel so confined.

Sam_1&2_I

On page 4 it mentioned there are six questions including:1. Who I Am Stories, 2. Why I Am Here Stories, 3. The Vision Stories, 4. Teaching Stories, 5. Values-in-Action Stories, and 6. I Know What You Are Thinking Stories.

Here I want to share a bit of my personal experience about the first "Who I Am," as a confusing issue of Taiwanese nationality .

Through my high school,1993-1999, students in Taiwan need to memorize all the geographic details about China. During that period I think Taiwan have a great connection with China, even I know politically we are separated.

When I was in army service about four years ago, I found it is ridiculous that the imaginative enemy for the Force of Taiwan (R.O.C.) is CHINA. And all the simulations is about defending China force to land on Taiwan.

I myself was born in Taiwan, I speak fluent Chinese and I am proficient in Taiwanese; my parents was born in Taiwan, they speak fluent Chinese and Taiwanese; my grandparents was born in Fujian Province, China, they speak fluent Taiwanese and are proficiently in Chinese. People live in Fujian Province speak Min Nan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Min_Nan), so called Hoklo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoklo_people). Many Taiwanese came to Taiwan from Fujian Province for decades or maybe a century and they speaks Min Nan.

As years go by, the ones born in Taiwan think they're speaking Taiwanese, but in fact, they're speaking Min Nan, or something just like Min Nan. Min Nan itself still has disputation about being a language or a dialect by far.

More later...

Jessie__1_I

I once had a professor who would open the first day of his classes every single semester with a story about a group of cavemen sitting around a fire telling each other about the day's hunt. Out of the darkness a single figure lumbers through the cave door. It is Ook, he is neither the strongest nor the largest of the caveman. He doesn't track animals or fish any better or worse than the rest of the pack. He is as unremarkable as a caveman can be. But on this night Ook drags the carcass of some animal to the mouth of the cave and leaves it there. He is bruised and battered and covered with blood. The rest of the pack is curious and they make space for Ook around the fire. He begins to tell them of walking through the forest, tracking a deer for their supper. He tells of the long, hot hours under the canopy of trees spent waiting, spear at the ready, for that moment when his prey walks into his line of sight. He tells of the moment he realizes that he is not the only one tracking their supper in the forest.

Everyone waits for Ook to go on. Clearly something has happened, something big. Ook is covered in mud and blood and bits of fur and that is certainly not a deer laying at the mouth of the cave. Ook covers the distance to mysterious pile in a few long strides. He whispers from the shadows about the moment he turned and saw...

All of a sudden a massive lion jumps from the shadows roaring to the heavens. The group cries out and scatters and a few brave souls grasp for their spears. Then the lion starts to laugh and he shakes off his fur. The cavemen all stare in amazement, it is no lion, it's Ook. He's just become the first storyteller. From that point on Ook's arrival back at the fire every night was something to look forward to because he always brought some interesting tale. And every once in a while they would be able to convince Ook to pull on the old lion skin and tell his story. And even though they all knew the end, they still huddled in anticipation when Ook disappeared into the shadows and cried out when he leaped forward roaring. They had become the first audience.

To sit here and type the story doesn't even begin to do it justice. I heard this story maybe a half dozen times in the few years this professor was here, as did a lot of other students in the theatre department. But we were up on the edge of our seats every - single - time waiting for him to jump up in front of us pretending to be Ook pretending to be the lion. He could have sat in front of us and told us how important storytelling is and how if we really are dedicated to our craft people will come back for more time and time again. He could have told us a lot of things, but he didn't, he showed us with some of the best stories I have ever heard.

What I'm trying to say is that storytelling is a skill, we all should know that by now. But it's a skill that has to be practiced and thought upon if it's going to get anywhere beyond the weekend recap at the watercooler stage. Breaking the process of telling stories down into categories and processes could completely rob all of the fun from storytelling, but in our text the use of stories to teach about storytelling just gives us more stories to draw examples from. So, yeah, I guess that's it for my big idea for the week.

P.s. did anyone else notice that the subtitle on the front of the book is different from the subtitle on the title page inside the book? I borrowed the first edition of this book from Chesebro a year ago and it was like that then. I was sort of hoping they would have fixed it for the second edition, it's sort of driving me up the wall.

Tonya_1_I

More than ever this chapter has enforced the idea that in order to tell a good story you must know the audience you are trying to reach. In order to manipulate, gain trust, or express a truth one has to know their audience. Playing upon the needs of the audience is what gives us the edge in manipulation and building trust. In order to express the "Naked Truthe" you have to relate your story to the audience at hand. They have to be able to see themselves in your story other wise you'll be stuck with that "What the Hell" look from those you are trying to reach. One story will not reach all people but one concept can be develop into as many stories necessary to reach an entire world.

Luke_1&2_I

I like what Simmons is attempting to do in Chapters one and two, but I don't like being restricted to a mere 6 heading umbrella. She can't possibly have covered every reason for telling a story in a six categories. It's a big red flag.

If she is supposed to be teaching us shouldn't she build some faith in her readers first? We know she is a person and is therefore flawed. Annette, show me that you know your theory has holes in it. I don't mind you covering your ass as long as you let me know you're doing it.

Joshua__CHAPTER_1&2__Q

These first two chapters by Simmons reminded me of something that was said to me this summer. It was during my "California Odyssey" and I was explaining to a realtor what I'm doing in graduate school; that I'm studying digital storytelling. After I made my, now well rehearsed, spiel he simply replied, "Oh, your just a really good salesman." I was astounded by the simplicity of his remark.

After reflection I realized he was right. We are, simply put, "really good salesmen." We have not only the narrative skills necessary to create a great pitch; pitch being anything from a documentary to a website, but we also have the technical skills to bring the pitch, or sale, to life.

Simmons reflects this notion by talking about authenticity and convincing listeners that we are worthy of their trust. I guess what separates digital storytelling from traditional storytelling, and sales, is the lack of face to face contact, or the oral culture. Building trust and establishing authenticity, at least to me, seem to be harder to accomplish digitally.

For the sake of us all enhancing our skills as modern salespeople...
What are some effective ways to create trust or generate authenticity digitally?

Brandon_1&2_Q

So Simmons begins the book by talking about Faith.

Simmons tells of a “$6-an-hour” worker who found a mistake that Simmons made in a project that could have been quite costly to the company.

The beginning of the next paragraph is titled “Trust Me.” This is where Simmons goes on a bit of a diatribe about the whole Faith issue… in a business sense. She says that people want faith, faith in the mangers to be able to pick up where they left off because they believe in them.

Is it me, or is Simmons being hypocritical about the situation?

She wants the ditch diggers of the company to believe in their upper-level cohorts. However, it was the fact that one of the low-level workers did NOT believe in Simmons’ work that a mistake was caught that could have become quite costly for the company.

The example that Simmons gives demonstrates a lack of faith by a worker that resulted in a positive outcome for the company.

I think it’s good for all workers to be somewhat skeptical of the powers-that-be. This keeps everyone on their toes. This way, everyone in a company is depended upon, rather than just one individual for each level of the corporate hierarchy. Could this viewpoint cause inefficiency in the corporate ladder? Possibly. But that is why it needs to be executed within agreeable degrees of effectiveness.

People may indeed want faith. They may want to be able to believe in their bosses. But do they really? To a degree. It’s important to always be aware of project situations in a company so that some of those mistakes can be caught by the menial “$6-an-hour” worker.

Iris I&2 $&$§&§$%!!!

...I deleted my beautiful Post through marking the Text with shift+arrow up (...I haven't used blogger in a long time...- three months is long when you don't blog AT ALL) and then - just in that second- blogger "autosaved" the empty post so I couldn't get back to the previous version (next time write it in word and then post it)....and then I spilled my "tons-of-pulp" Orange-Juice on the table which took me at least five dead trees to clean up.....I am feeling a little bit enraged right now and would like to destroy something or start a dressless riot on university avenue....but I shouldn't because all my work will be useless if I am sitting in a padded cell unable to attend the class tomorrow....*phew*...I know it is very unprofessional to bother the public with my insane profanities....and I still have almost an hour to finish the post - and guys....I can write a lot &%$§ in an hour if it wasn't Monday where my mind falls apart at 7:45am and it usually takes me the whole week to puzzle it together......

AND YES...I am also one of the memebers that waits for the book....so I thought I ride down on my oldschool-backbreak-bike to the village to CBX to buy it and then return it to get full refund before Sept. 2nd (uuuuh I am so SMART!!!) just to find out that CBX didn't order any of them AT ALL.....so I ended up sitting on the carpet of the Atrium and quick reading the two chapters (and peeking into a book about a Voodoo Priestess in Brooklyn named Mama Lola) because the full-refund date already passed there.....anyway....a few things popped into my mind and I promise I keep it short and sweet:

- did anyone felt at least a little bit reminded of Csikszentmihalyi while reading about Capital-T-Truth?....(that wasn't meant negative)

- Knowing and showing your vulnerability is also a form of defense because you also state:"I know my weak points so don#t stab into them because I amprepared and if you nevertheless do so you shed bad light on yourself"

- Somehow I have the impression that communication studies made me "see" stories and now I see them everywhere. That bothers me because sometimes I just do not want to hear a story to illustrate me why and how I have to act a certain way or to change my attitude/behavior towards something. Sometimes as cold and naked the truth is I want to hear it straight and clear and not botoxed and lifted and wrapped in a pretty corset. Because when you strip it it is still the cold and naked truth.....I just guess it is a thin red line between being offensive and being honest.....
A story has to be well incorporated otherwise it may pulls me away from the speaker. I went to a service of Campus Crusade and the speaker used a lost+found story of her dog to build up a connection with the audience and then to lead into her speech about "lost sheep".....I got pulled away...I didn't like it...

- although the author talkes about basic and essential aspects of communication I am already familiar with (through courses I took during my 11 semesters of study) she formulates and organizes them in a clear straight manner and sometimes points out connections that were too obvious (!!!) for me to recognize them. I like her six categories. Those categories are extremely basic - thats why the connection to religions: basic and ancient patterns!!

....and I know I broke my promise....;D!

Vince_Q

While I too wait for my book, I wish to ask a question based on my work over the summer of 'Video Editing Slave' at a local news station.

Do you think that the broadcast news industry faces a crisis right now with online blogs that cover news stories? What about regular news sites that are able to update instantly such as Wikipedia and the outlets such as Yahoo? And if so, what do you think they can do to keep up, short of becoming an internet company themselves?

Han_1 and _2

Sometimes I am thinking what the story really is. Can everything happens around us and others be storyes? Does it need to have a certain meaning or it just can be a common thing which surround us. In the chapter 1, it mentions that when we tell a story, it must be persuasive to make some to believe. I really like this sentence becasue I think usually people like telling their own stories to others but not like listening to other's stories.
In my guess, people usually don't have patience to listen to uninteresting things for them. Moreover, when a person who tells a story about him/her self or others, we won't beleive it is true if this person is not persuasive. Therfore who tells stories is also very inportant.
How to make the stories be believable? If we want, every one can tell stories, but are we sure that others like it? I like tell the stories which happen arround me, my friends and my family. Ultimately, I found the way of telling stories are very critical. For example, some people can tell stories very interesting, but if it turns to another person who even doesn't know how to tell a story, it will be boring. Why? Is some thing wrong on the syories? I assume that the person who knows how to make the stories very interesting is a good storteller.
IN chapter 2, it talks about "true". The story should be true. How do I think? I think it depends. In Taiwan and China, we have some stories which is called legend. These stories are not true; all of them are made up by poele. However, aren't they interesting? Are't they good enough to listen? I don't think so. Some representative legends even were filmed into the movies or TV. I think it is cheating; it is just give us more imagination. Sometimes, even though we talk about our stories, I believe that it will be more intriguing if we add something which is fake into our stories.
I beleive that stories are very changeable.

JohnJ_1&2_I

I find it interesting that during the opening of the book Annette so cleverly broke in the reader (you and I) with many short, quick stories; and if one were to look at the topic of most of those stories you find most about the teaching of trust, enlightenment, and power. To me this is done not by accident, but by Annette done so that you trust her and her knowledge, establishes her power and expertise, and that she isn't another self help artist.

NOT that I am trying to discredit this book or Annette, I am just trying to apply her own words to her situation. I have a good feeling already that I am going to LIKE THIS BOOK. Its clear, an easy read, and the most important, used stories to teach skills:) Every one likes stories. Now only if this were a picture book. (One of many jabs at Architecture I'll make this semester. If you were ever to look at any architecture publications you will understand that we like our pictures.)

~JJ

Your life as a story...

After reading the first chapter, I was thinking back and reflecting that it has been over a year since I applied to my "dream" job which was teaching at Indiana School for the Deaf and I didn't get it and I went to finish my first master that I started beginning of last summer.

I remember all the techniques and tips that was given to me for preparingi the interview and what to do and wear for the interview. Present yourself well... It is a story but in a visual way... What you wear will explain some of your personality... If you walk in the room with a clean dress and suit, people more likely see you as clean, care about yourself and others, have a serious-sense to do their job. The other person, let say a Hippie, was dress up in short and a T-Shirt that has a picture of weed or beer. The people will obviously think he is open minded, rule breaker, lack of respects, and other characteristic that can be negative. I personally don't think story has to be verbal or written, it can be done by action and apperance. You know the saying one pictures explain over thousands of words.

I see we live in a story book and we may percieve the story differently. Sometime it can be the same... Everyone had a different perpective of the story due to their background. I like that and can be able to hear other people story to see their perspective. Sometime we can't and that can be interesting to explore the backgroud to understand the story or show lack of interest to hear more. I don't want to be talking to much... but I was thinking of six different elements of story telling. You can't do all at the same time... Just build on it like job skills from basic to advanced and go from there.

Kyle_1&2_I

With all of our new ways to communicate digitally are we just reinventing a very old wheel?

I thought that Simmons was make a great case for face to face "old fashion" oral communication. As we evolve our methods and devices of communication we insulate ourselves from our audience. Whether its a blog, email, facebook, etc. over half of our communication ability is lost. We lose our unique human skills of facial expressions and vocal inflection. So much of our face to face communication is non verbal that we struggle to project the same message through digital forms of communication. Simmons examples of the power of storytelling is key evidence to this point.

Tim_I

The message read:

"Dear Tim Underhill

Your Amazon order #058-xxxxxxx-3517903 has shipped to:

Tim Underhill

Department of Telecommunications

2000 W University Ave

Muncie

IN 47306-1022

US

Manifest of items:

- The Story Factor: Inspiration, Influence, and Persuasion Through the Art of...

Method of shipping: Standard"

That was my mistake, standard shipping. As of today, I am still waiting for the book for my TCOM 630 class. Yes, I am a cheapskate. I was thrilled to get the book and shipping for less than ten bucks. That is unheard of in the land of hundred dollar textbooks.

I am usually proud of my cost saving measures, but this one might end up biting me.

I don’t buy a lot of anything but appreciate the convenience of online shopping. One of my favorite places to shop is Moosejaw. It isn’t that they have better products or lower prices, but they will match any advertises price. The best part of the Moosejaw web site is the product descriptions. Moosejaw has a reputation for storytelling to sell it’s wares. The entries remind me of the J. Peterman character on Seinfeld, but with a penchant for outdoorsy humor. Moosejaw wants you to have fun shopping on it’s web site.

Readers are treated to obscure references and tales of dating conquests and confusion. If you enjoy the outdoors, online shopping and reading funny narratives, I recommend heading to Moosejaw.com. I’ll warn you though, you might end up wasting a lot of time. Maybe it will keep me occupied while I wait for my book to be delivered.

Brian_1_I

Let's talk about faith...

I'm one of those cool folks who is also awaiting delivery of The Story Factor...

Should arrive in the next few days but in the meantime I've read the google scholar blurbs and discovered something of interest in the first few pages. (work with what you got, right)

Most people who know me a bit under the surface know I put very little 'faith' in faith. I consider myself a realist and I'm most comfortable when surrounded by facts and numbers. Believing in anything I can't evaluate in scientific terms (social science is a science too) just doesn't happen. My dad ingrained an instant avoidance of anything gimmicky product wise...perhaps I took that a step too far.

People generally don't like talking politics with me. This, of course, makes me sad; I always enjoy rambunctious scholarly discussions with thoughtful people. The thing I miss is that people have blind faith in some beliefs and others (read: most) are just arrogant and irrelevant. Then I come along, confident as usual due to my obsessive ingestion of multi-faceted news and personal primary research. I have numbers, I have mixed theories, and at the end of the day I feel that the opinions I've developed are about as accurate as my 'progressive experience filter' will allow. We sit around and begin chatting and instantly I start evaluating people's opinions and as their ideas drift further away from mine I start discounting...basically everything they say. Then it's my turn to talk and I speak with authority but little spirit...little faith.

My ultimate goal in most political discussions is to make the other person reconsider their own beliefs to be reformed closer to my own. Somewhat self serving, I know, but it's my mission to fight for the underdogs of society. It's not an operation of manipulations as I believe I'm fighting for truth in a confusing media world.

Unfortunately numbers and under-the-surface political theory doesn't make the sell for many. I'm missing an important factor if I'm ever going to be successful with this goal and Simmons hits the nail on the head. I need stories...not numbers...if I'm ever going to inspire the faith required to change others.

"Telling a meaningful story means inspiring your listeners -- coworkers, leaders, subordinates, family, or a bunch of strangers -- to reach the same conclusions you have reached and decide for themselves to believe what you say and do what you want them to do. People value their own concussions more highly than yours" (Simmons 3)

I bet the chapter goes much deeper and I'm actually looking forward to reading it...at least this is digital...ehh?

Awaiting the Pleasure

of borrowing "Story Factor" until Half.com supplier provides and then joining the illustrious commentators of said manuscript.

Liz 0: I
How about consulting www.dictionary.com to get more on three targets of communication? Here are the short versions.

The mind: intellect, (in a human or other conscious being) the element, part, substance, or process that reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges, etc.: the processes of the human mind. The will: center for conscious choice and decision and intention The emotions: The part of the consciousness that involves feeling; sensibility: "The very essence of literature is the war between emotion and intellect" (Isaac Bashevis Singer).

Brian_Acknowledgments_Other

I don't know if this is an idea or not. It certainly isn't a "Big" idea. It's just something I found interesting.

But...

When Ms. Simmons is thanking people who "generously shared their stories," she puts their names in alphabetical order, except for one. John KRISTOFF's name falls in between Robert COOPER and Cindy FRANKLIN. I'm guessing when the original list was made, Mr. Kristoff's name was thought to be spelled "Cristoff," and then corrected before the book went to print.

Well, this has absolutely nothing to do with class!

Sorry to waste your time!! On to the next post...