Storytelling Exercise

I wanted to post today about an exercise i love to teach in my bootcamps: the story
telling exercise!

Of all the exercises i teach, i dunno why, but this one in particular resonates with my
clients the most. We go over it once on Saturday, but sometimes on Sunday, this exercise
comes up again.

Like all good stories: this exercise has a BEGINNING, MIDDLE, and a END.

BEGINNING: THE HEADLINE

Anytime i start this exercise with a client, just like in a magazine, i want to hear the
headline of the story. What would be the title of your story if i was skimming the LA
TIMES?
Sometimes to get in the mood of HEADLINES, i'll yell in my head, in 1920s
style....EXTRA, EXTRA, read all about it.....[insert headline]
One particular story i tell is my fear of roller coasters. yup, im frightened of them. my
headline is: Im NOT a fan of amusement parks. thats it! nothing fancy or too wordy, just
simple and too the point.

THE MIDDLE: PUT ME IN YOUR SHOES

To me, this part is critical. I've heard Troy and Wayne coin this phrase: "Paint the
Picture" and this is your time to become the next PICASSO. Paint that SPECIFIC picture
with description and emotions. At this point I WHIP out my "Brush" and put people in
MY shoes as I'm telling the story.
From the roller coaster story above:
I'm 7 yrs old, and I'm excited to being going to my first REAL amusement park. The day
before the church parking lot is this boring, empty place....BUT NOW (i get excited), i
walk into this magical world of LOUD NOISES, the smell of COTTON CANDY, and
lights FLASHING from this one ride in particular. I run as fast as i can to the
ABOMINAL SNOWMAN RIDE. I see all these white pods that remind me of snow balls
and i couldn't wait to get on.
The carnie that strapped me in wasn't paying attention, but i didn't care. as the ride
started, and i was in heaven, speeding along in a circle, round and round i went, yelling
my little lungs out. the ride came to a stop, and i assumed i was done....i was soo
WRONG. i get up,wedge myself out from under the "BAR" that would hold you down, and
the ride started up again. This time going backwards. i fly forward, and land, BANG, on
the hood of the snow pod, DANGLING for dear life. My cheers go from cheers of joy to
terror. I'm SCREAMING bloody murder, for what felt like an eternity until the carnie
finally stopped the ride.

A few times i've actually finished that story, but what usually happens is, people get so
involved, they just can't help but want to relate to your experience right away. Lots of
times, i get cut off.
THE END: WHAT I LEARNED or THE POINT
once i've finished my story, i will let the other person know what i've learned from the
story.
Now, anytime i get near roller coasters, my palms get all sweaty and my heart races. that
why i don't go to MAGIC MOUNTAIN.

Now my story has closure.