Digital Challenge
What we will cover
Act One: The Setup
Last month, when we set targets, I promised some help with storytelling. Today, I offer not only a comprehensive breakdown of how to tell better stories, but also a glimpse at my own tale.
When we think of stories, possibly we conjure works of fiction in books or films, I am in awe of how we can be so emotionally entangled to care about fictitious characters and their journey in such a short space of time.
But whether it’s making deeper connections with those down the pub or swaying a courtroom verdict by inventing a motive, storytelling is all around us, and holds a power that is as mysterious as it is compelling.
Act Two: The Confrontation
Just before Christmas, we had the pleasure of attending a workshop by Sven Louch, a man well-versed in the psychology of emotion.
He taught us not only to welcome and harness our feelings in decision-making but also revealed a surprising favourite: anger. According to Sven, anger empowers us to stand up for what we believe in – an essential quality in every good hero.
Yet, emotions alone do not a memorable story make. Without relatable characters, even the most carefully structured narrative can fall flat. Who better to illustrate this than Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith with Inside No. 9? Their ability to set up and deliver meaningful stories in a mere half-hour is nothing short of a work of art—a testament to brilliant writing and the portrayal of unique characters.
I was reminded of this when I thought back to my first encounter with a truly great storyteller. I was in the first year of secondary school at KEVICCs, in a cold cabin on a brisk spring morning, when a substitute English teacher arrived.
Sadly, I can’t remember his name, and he will never know how his fleeting moments in my life story had such a profound impact. But his grey hair, dulcet tones and unwavering charisma had the room gripped that morning.
Our lives are, in themselves, eclectic narratives. Monty Python and Eddie Izzard taught me the art of silliness; 80s rap introduced me to the cultural battles of race; and Slick Rick made me believe that the world could be mine.
But sport stands as the pinnacle of storytelling in my world, because it is real.
I have watched Hanson tell us the kids couldn’t do it, only to witness the greatest comeback of all time. I saw Tiger defy gravity, Murray unite Wimbledon, and Wilkinson kick for World Cup glory with 30 seconds on the clock.
But why don’t we all tell our stories?
Perhaps if they aren’t shrouded in such greatness, we might feel they’re not worth telling?
Act Three: The Resolution
I challenge that very thought.
Your story is unique, and your perspective may help others more than you realise.
So, how do we tell our authentic story? Well, I might have something that helps.
Ikigai
A term meaning “a reason for living” or that which gives life its worth. Ikigai encourages us to seek purpose and joy in every aspect of our lives.
Imagine four intersecting circles representing:
- What you love
- What you are good at
- What you think the world needs
- What can be paid for
(Feel free to draw this out and place thoughts and feelings in these spaces).
At their intersections, you discover:
- Good & Love = Passion
- World needs & Love = Mission
- Good & Paid = Profession
- World needs & Paid = Vocation
Yet, between these intersections lie the subtleties of our journey:
- Passion & Profession = Satisfaction, but perhaps uselessness
- Passion & Mission = Delight, yet no wealth
- Mission & Vocation = Excitement, though uncertainty
- Vocation & Profession = Comfort, albeit with emptiness
So Ikigai reveals that our lives (and our stories) are far more intricate than a simple narrative of achievement.
Storytelling is about communication, a tool that has evolved with us and created the collaboration that defines our very existence.
Stories are also a vision of the future, not merely a recounting of the past. And when these future visions become the stories of the past, we are, in essence, shaping the destiny for all.
So let today’s story be the guide that leads you to discover your own Ikigai – a journey of purpose, emotion, and surprise, waiting to be told.
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