4 steps to creating a moving business story.

1. Hero

Meet [hero]. She’s just like you.

2. Dream

She dreams to …

3. Wall

She’s blocked by …

4. New World

She is [emotion] that [outcome]. 
​She now understands …

Create a story to inspire people take a risk.

1. Hero

Meet Brantio.  She’s a baby barnacle (Branta) goose who just hatched. She’s starving.

2. Dream

Brantio dreams of food.

3. Wall

She hasn’t had anything to eat in her life. The problem is, she hatched on a cliff 400 feet high. She needs to take the leap and jump 40 floors to reach her parents and food below. She can’t fly.

4. New World

Brantio is thrilled she took the leap.  She made it safely to her parents and food. Like Brantio, we must take the leap into the unknown to make change happen.

Create a story to inspire people to ask for a promotion.

1. Hero

Meet Susan.  She’s a quiet scientist in Pharma who’s loved by her peers for her “make it happen” attitude.

2. Dream

Susan dreams of getting promoted.

3. Wall

Susan is blocked by her manager, who likes to take credit for her work.

Taking the leap, she decides to speak with her manager. Then, her manager’s manager.

4. New World

Susan is thrilled at being promoted. She had to leap outside her comfort zone to ask for what she deserved.

With new confidence, she is helping other brilliant and quiet coworkers stand up.

Tips

Not Disney

Keep your stories short. 2 min max. Focus on how your hero faces the Wall.

Create Suspense

Build tension and release only at the end, so your listener gets an “aha” moment.

Lessons Learned

Invite your audience to share lesson’s learned. They likely have a similar story to share.