The power of storytelling:
“Stories are the single most powerful weapon in a leader’s arsenal.” – Howard Gardner
Steven Dyme telling us the story behind Flowers For Dreams.
Steven Dyme started talking about Flowers For Dreams by telling us a story of a college guy selling flowers at commencements. In fact, most entrepreneurs we interacted with in this class introduced themselves by telling us about their life stories and how they got them there. We live in an age of compelling stories. Most of us have probably heard about how Steve Jobs dropped out of college but still went to calligraphy classes. Or maybe it is the story of a young Harvard student starting a social networking website in his dorm room. Every one of us has a story. For successful entrepreneurs, they must be excellent storytellers.
Why is storytelling so powerful? It is the emotional value that stories possess and the resonance stories can have with their audience. Dan Wieden, the co-founder of one of the most successful independent ad agencies once said in order for them to help a business, they need to move the audience. The best way to do that is to tell a story that is truthful, authentic, and compelling. In telling the story, the storyteller builds a relationship with his or her audience. In Peter Guber’s article “The Four Truths of the Storyteller”, the last section is titled: “The Unchanging Heart of Storytelling”. It is the “heart” that moves people. It is the “heart” that will continue to make storytelling the single most powerful weapon for any entrepreneurs.
The power of ideas:
Ideation is a collaborative process. (Source: IDEO)
The process of thinking comes when a collection of ideas collide.We talked about how to approach a team meeting in our discussion. It is obvious that if there is one idea in the room that is considered absolute, it hinders creativity. Creativity comes from making connections between different ideas. So it is important to have a point of view in a team environment. Not everyone will agree with that idea but you never know if someone can be inspired and find a new way to approach the problem. There is an interesting quote by the artist, Austin Kleon:
“Every artist gets asked the question, ‘Where do you get your ideas?’
The honest artist answers, ‘I steal them.’”
Thinking is about connecting knowledge. (Source: Fast Company)
Like Pam mentioned at the beginning of this course, people are encouraged to share their work, especially in the design field. The big idea never comes from a single point of view. When people come together and let their ideas collide naturally, there will be beautiful sparkles.
The power of words:
A simple word like “might” may seem unimportant to many, but it has the power to open a door for thinking. It subtly implies that there is not just one solution to the problem. It created a state of openness that allows new possibilities to come in. Unconditional words like “might” can keep the mind open and it is the only way to fuel the thinking process. I believe that there is no one absolute answer to any problem. The use of conditional language is not giving up any of the existing answers. It is the intent to open up the conversation and hopefully, we can create a culture of thinking that will be relevant for a very long time.
“At the end of the day, words and ideas presented in a way that engages listeners’ emotions are what carry stories. It is this oral tradition that lies at the center of our ability to motivate, sell, inspire, engage, and lead.” -Peter Guber
Stories we told:
Carolyn Hagler – The Fixer Upper
Steven Dyme – Be Naive, Sell Flowers
