For centuries have been using stories for more than just an entertaining form of communication. Stories have been a means to express and ideas and principles that will be remembered long after the story was originally told. There has been whole cultures were shaped through the power of a story. Modern investigative practices came about through one collection of fictional stories.
The fictional character Sherlock Holmes was created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A well-traveled British physician who was a fervent advocate for justice. He wrote four novels and 56 short stories around the character of Sherlock Holmes. Mr. Doyle personally closed two cases that had Scotland Yard had not.
Sir Arthur’s stories of Sherlock Holmes lead to Scotland Yard rethink their investigative process. Instead of acting on what appeared on the surface, they started using science investigative methods to find and convict the criminals.
Another notable storyteller was the President 16th of the United States. If you search Google, Abraham Lincoln storyteller, you will find a large collection of the stories he told. They were power metaphors. Mr. Lincoln told stories in a way people of the day could relate.
Abraham Lincoln was not known for being a great speaker or salesman. However, he could attract and hold a crowd’s attention through stories. It has been written, Mr. Lincoln to had a story ready to tell at anytime or at anyplace.
In my short story, ‘Mike the Mighty Mouse’ you can see what marketing techniques get what level of results. The story came from observing the success and failure of different people who were trying to sell a unique product or service.
We have often heard that the story is more powerful than mere facts. Facts with statics have been said that if you massage them enough, they will say whatever you want them to say. Put a well written story will take those facts and reveal the truth the storyteller wants to communicate.
If the next time you want to your listeners understand your prospective, encapsulate your message in a story.
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