Looking to craft a compelling story? Avoid the words ‘and then’. These words turn your story into a summary of facts and incidents. Dull and uninspiring! You want the facts and event to interconnect harmoniously. In this persuasion tip, discover which words you can use to accomplish this.
Many years ago, we introduced the concept of ‘JM Untold’ within entrepreneur’s assocation ‘Jong Management’ . This remarkable initiative entailed evenings where two or three members divulged their captivating ‘untold entrepreneurial stories,’ unveiling their triumphs, tribulations, challenges and decisive moments. In essence, these evenings unfolded as a vivid portrayal of their entrepreneurial journey.
The risk is that such a life story turns into monotonous CV-like summary. Often, one prepares by writing down a succession of accomplishments, but caution must be exercised to avoid recounting them in a mundane chronological manner.
What does that sound like? Reminiscent of a child delivering a mundane account of their summer vacation 😉
To truly improve your storytelling, it’s essential to delve beyond mere surface-level events. By seeking the underlying meaning and extracting valuable lessons from these experiences, you can elevate your stories to extraordinary heights. This very approach has played a pivotal role in the resounding success of ‘JM Untold’. Its captivating tales are not only exciting, but also very informative. However, let’s acknowledge that crafting such stories demands considerable effort. Thankfully, there is a fast method to add more punch to your stories.
Refrain from using the phrase ‘and then’ and start using ‘as a result’ and ‘but’ instead.
Coming back to the summer vacation:
‘As a result’ creates a common thread, seamlessly connecting events and fostering a natural flow.
‘But’ on the other hand, creates tension, introduces captivating twists, unexpected hurdles and breathes life and excitement into our story!
Personal development is a matter of targeted practice, feedback and being provided with the appropriate tools and techniques from an expert. The Debatrix Skillslab is fully equipped to help you or your team get started right away!
Please note: This exercise in the Debatrix Skillslab is exclusively available for (former) participants who have completed our storytelling training ‘TED-worthy Presenting’, (both for individual & incompany participants). To access the Debatrix Skillslab, please request an account or log in below.
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