Duck Tape or Duct Tape?

Josh_11_Q

I'm intrigued by Simmons' comments on a "second style of perception," Story Thinking. As a student of a digital storytelling program I would like to say that I regularly use this skill. I might also consider the possibility that I was drawn to the program two years ago because I regularly think in this manner. However, Simmons say on page 257, "Unless you are an artist, critical thinking will still be your primary mode of thinking."

I don't necessarily consider myself an artist; certainly not in the traditional sense. Am I confined to critical thinking?

What do you all think? Are we story thinkers or are we, like the CEOs and execs Simmons targets, crippled by critical thought?

Fast Company Expert Blog

Want to create change? Tell a Story

A recent blog post by Chip Conley from FastCompany.com for any of you that are interested.

Joshua_10_1

The line between a storyteller and a miscreant is a thin one. (233)

Amen. More often than not the unsavory characters you meet will be the most fun to talk to. Take for example my great uncles, two of the most unsavory characters I know and also two of the best storytellers I have personally met. They probably don't even consider themselves storytellers, but they're the type that can sit down to talk to each other and draw a crowd. As far as mammoth cat fish, the SeaBees, plane crashes, and bowling are concerned they've got you covered.

I have also found that Simmons' rule holds true while traveling. For example, I met Elmer in Charleston, South Carolina (some of you may remember my stubbed toe/liquor store hunt story). He was sitting outside a convenient store and invited myself and some friends to, "Sit awhile and listen to my story." He commenced to tell his life story. Both the ups and the downs, the good times and the bad. He told us how he had lost the use of his legs and how we had found salvation in the Lord, Jesus Christ... who by the way wanted us to by him a King Cobra 40oz. Nary a better story has been told.

On a slightly unrelated note I have also found that this rule holds true for seafood restaurants. The worse it looks, the better the seafood is on the inside. Health Services might not agree with me, but I judge on taste. Anyway, you should take to heart both Simmons and my advice. The next time you see a shady-looking cat siting outside of a shack that claims to be a seafood restaurant, get ready, because you're going to be in heaven! That is is you consider heaven to be enjoying delicious seafood in the company of a delightful spinner of tales.

Joshua_9_I

For some reason the one thing that stood out of the many interesting points in this chapter was Simmons' comments on children's stories. On page 203 she begins, "They speak to people as if they are children in need of direction. Interesting, since I've noticed that even the most popular children's storytellers do not tell their stories for a position of superiority. Dr. Seuss's Horton Hears a Who is read out loud from a position of equality. A good storyteller makes it clear that he is just as worried about that speck of dust called Whoville as the children listening." And she continues a little further.

I guess this got a lot of ideas going in the ol' noggin, for the sake of this post's length I'll discuss two. The first is that children's books have to be extremely difficult to write well. Think of how difficult it is to convey an abstract concept to a group of peers. Now try to imagine conveying the same idea to a bunch of imaginative second graders that are ready to move on to something more interesting if your story doesn't "do it" for them. A formidable task indeed.

The second is that interactive storytelling on the web is kind of like children's books. You don't have that much time to reach the viewer, you need to clearly explain your ideas, and it should be interesting enough to keep them engaged for the length of the story. Most importantly, you want the viewer to understand that you care about the story, not just the tech stuff that got it out there.

I know that Sarah has been reading a lot of children's series lately. Maybe we should all get on the bandwagon.

Joshua_8_I

Simmons' comment on intelligence in regard to storytelling & story retention really drove home for me the importance of storytelling. While there may be no statistical data on this topic I certainly agree with her. I'm sure that we all can agree that knowing and sharing stories makes an individual more interesting and engaging; more well-rounded.

I also liked that Simmons switched it up in this chapter and focused on listening. If you think about it it is just as important as storytelling. If you tell a story and no one's there to hear it, does a tree fall on a mime in the woods somewhere? Anyway, I think you get my point. The chapter was a nice change of pace.

Josh_7_I

This post builds upon the post by JJ below:

I agree that environmentalists, Al Gore in particular, paint a pretty dismal picture of the future. I also agree that they should try a different approach. Former Sierra Club president, Adam Werbach, recently teamed up with Wal-Mart because he felt his environmentalist peers weren't getting anything done. The outcome of his relationship with Wal-Mart is a broad reaching plan for the transition of the mega-chain, from mega-wasteful to mega-green. The plan he helped foster will have a global impact when completed. The grumbling of his peers fosters little to speak of.

JJ mentioned spinning the positives, instead of the negatives. I have to agree with him. [This is where I start trying to tie this into Chapter 7.] Businesses are just beginning to realize that being green can make them money. This positive has encouraged many businesses to make an effort. The more this positive is promoted, the greater the effect will be.

As storytellers, we have to keep in mind that our first attempts might not always be successful. Given the near certainty of the arrival of such a situation it is also good to keep in mind the possibility of trying a different approach. If you started out with the negatives, try the positives.

JJ also mentioned responsibility in his post and ultimately that's what a lot of things in life come down to. Sustainability could just as easily be called responsibility. Architects have a responsibility to create efficient buildings. Storytellers have a responsibility to disseminate vital information. We all have a responsibility to the future of our planet.

[Here's where I really start to drive the point home.] In Chapter 7, Simmons talks a lot about persuasion, but she doesn't say much about responsibility. Simply being able to persuade someone isn't the point. The reason behind the persuasion and the responsibility of the storyteller should be the point.

P.S. Anyone interseted in the inadequacy of the LEED standards that JJ alludes to and the Letterman building flaunts can click here.

Josh_6_I

Think of commercials you have seen recently. I'm sure most of you thought of some you really liked and a couple that you think are terrible. There has always been terrible and great commercials on TV and there always will be. The difference between the terrible commercials and the ones that are seen as great, or enjoyable, is the difference between sound bite and epic.

For me it's the "epic" that draws me into commercials, or any other form of advertising. Designers and marketers that have an innate sense of storytelling and how to connect with people are better at what they do. They make better advertisements.

It's an interesting concept for us to keep in mind as well. Just because some looks slick and contemporary doesn't mean that people are going to connect. We have to constantly keep in mind that the technology is secondary to the people using it. Sound bites are great but they don't last. It's the people, the epics, that will always be here.

Joshua_3_1

I think the most impressive aspect of this chapter is Simmons retention of stories heard, or her incredibly creative nature. I seem to doubt that every VP or manager mentioned in the book is a tangible, physical person; so I am going to assume she is very creative. If you think about writing a novel, and Erik might correct me, but there's one story being told. Annette has told probably 100 stories, albeit short stories, in just the first three chapters of this book. She must be a story factory, or at least have a house boat on the "river of story."

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?