Can anyone tell what happened to them, and always get attention?
Has anything exciting ever happened to you and you just have to tell somebody? Then, when you started speaking, did you find that there were different reactions? Sometimes they listened. Sometimes not.
But what if you knew the secret. The secret of how to tell your stories so that everyone wanted to listen? You'd be very popular. People would want to be around you. Your social status would soar.
What's the purpose of a 'personal' story?
A personal story is a story that is meant to entertain. It helps you to bond with another. Keeps the conversation going. A personal story is told for fun.
It is different from other types of story. For example, it is different from the story where your purpose is to inform and educate someone. Or the purpose is intended to persuade someone and change their beliefs. Or to get them to do something. And you definitely do not want the listener f your story to search for a message or a universal truth, as in a movie or book. Personal stories are for enjoyment.
How do you structure a 'personal' story so everyone wants to listen?
Great personal stories have a definite format: start with this, follow it with that, and then end with this. It always works. Try this formula and see how your personal storytelling goes to a new level.
The elements of a great story are:
1. Time and Place (Context)
2. Characters (You, and/or who else, and/or what else)
3. WHAT did you want to accomplish (Goal)
4. WHY did you want to accomplish it (Motivation)
5. What stopped you from achieving your goal (Conflict)
- How did you handle the situation? (Reaction)
- What happened then? (Solution)
6. Repeat Step 5 for more obstacles
7. In the end, did you achieve your original goal or something else? (Resolution)
In summary:
⦁ Context
⦁ Characters
⦁ Goal
⦁ Motivation
⦁ Conflict - Reaction -Solution
⦁ Resolution
Use this formula in this order and you have the secret to a great personal story.
Can you give me an example of a good personal story using an experience I had?
Imagine your experience was going for a new job.
Context - Last Tuesday (TIME) I was standing at the Bus Stop. (PLACE)
Characters - I was the only one there.
Goal - I had a job interview.
Motivation - I really needed the job. I needed the money. To pay the rent.
Conflict - I didn't have a car so the bus was the only way I could get there. Finally, the bus appeared. But it didn't stop!
Reaction - I was furious. I shook my fist at the driver. I had to think about how else I could get there.
Solution - I saw a bike on the fence. It was just leaning there. Nobody around. I took it.
Resolution - I got there just in time for my appointment. I got the job.
Can you give me another example of a good personal story using an experience I had?
Imagine your experience was to get fit.
Context - Last moth (TIME) I was thinking of joining a gym (PLACE)
Characters - There were loads of other healthy-looking bodies around.
Goal - I was determined to get fit. And this was a gym that had a free one-day membership.
Motivation- I wanted to look spectacular and have girls ogling at me.
Conflict - I went over to this machine. It looked as if it made your biceps bigger. I lifted up the weights. I dropped it immediately. I'd pulled a muscle.
Reaction - Oh no. I hoped nobody saw me. I felt so embarrassed.
Solution - I pretended it didn't hurt and moved onto another machine
Resolution - I didn't join the gym.
Conclusion
I hope this session on making your stories, about your personal experiences, more lively. Follow this formula and you will get a great reaction when you tell your stories about your experiences. Every success.
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