Tag Archives: storytelling

A five-man team in a six-man league

By Steve | Published: September 26, 2009
Driving to work Friday morning, I was pulled into a story that unfolded on Colorado Public Radio. Five Arickaree High School boys talked about the decision they had to make when the school’s tiny student body did not yield enough boys to field a six-man football team. They decided to stick together and play with [...]
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Why the flame is eternal

By Steve | Published: August 31, 2009
The Chicago Tribune’s John Kass writes that with the death of Teddy Kennedy, perhaps we can now put the Kennedy / Camelot myth to rest. Sorry, Mr. Kass. Myths don’t work that way. Did Jacqueline Kennedy and a fawning press create the myth? Kass makes a pretty good case for that. But no matter how [...]
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Newspapers just don’t listen

By Steve | Published: August 26, 2009
“I’m embarassed to say this,” the 30-something working mom told the focus group. “But as I’m pushing the kids out the door in the morning, I see that newspaper all wrapped in plastic and I pick it up and set it on the pile of other newspapers wrapped in plastic in the hallway. Eventually, I [...]
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A story for parents whose chicks are leaving the nest

By Steve | Published: August 20, 2009
Frank Sanchez saw that there were many parents among the auditorium full of entering college freshmen. As the convocation for new students drew to a close, Frank, my university’s associate vice chancellor of student life, shared this story: The eagle gently coaxed her offspring toward the edge of the nest. Her heart quivered with conflicting [...]
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Book review: Must-read for job seekers

By Steve | Published: May 20, 2009
In her new book Tell Me About Yourself, Katharine Hansen provides actionable advice for incorporating storytelling in cover letters, resumes, job interviews, and conversations with the boss. As someone who is on the hiring end of the equation, I can vouch for the effectiveness of strategic storytelling (see my posts, What I look for in [...]
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What I look for in cover letters

By Steve | Published: April 5, 2009
I just finished looking at more than 100 cover letters. Here are a few thoughts for those of you in the job market: 1. Make your first paragraph work. “I am thrilled to apply for ….” “Enclosed please find ….” “I noticed your posting ….” Will blend right in with about 95 percent of the [...]
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A classic tale

By Steve | Published: March 26, 2009
Little Red Riding Hood: The Play from Steve Krizman on Vimeo. They didn’t shy away from death in the classics. Modern versions, such as this adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood, are sanitized. Even though Granny isn’t eaten in this version, the “wolf in sheep’s clothing” trope is alive and well. Thank you to the [...]
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Otterly excellent

By Steve | Published: March 24, 2009
Julie Zickefoose never disappoints me when she tells one of her animal stories on NPR. A recent story about her encounter with a 6-foot-long Amazon otter had several notable storytelling elements: § Suspense. You know the adorable otter is going to bite her, but she keeps you on tenterhooks all the way to the point [...]
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Is storytelling the “sixth discipline?”

By Steve | Published: March 24, 2009
Denning, S. (2005). The Leader’s Guide to Storytelling. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. As a knowledge management leader at the World Bank, Denning gained influence by gathering and using the organization’s success stories. He went on to study the historical and anthropological roots of storytelling and he joined a storyteller group. The result is a scholarly analysis [...]
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