In the 11th grade, I joined the track team with the dream of becoming an athletic nerd–the straight-A athlete that every college would want. The counselors told me that I needed to be “well-rounded” in order to get into a good college, and I was determined. I had been on the cross country team, and …Read More
Category: TED talk
Motivating lasting change: Fear vs. Efficacy
About 40 years ago, dentists in Connecticut ran an experiment.1 They wanted to know how to motivate people to brush and floss their teeth. They decided to try the well-known tactic–scare them into doing it. They randomized a large group of subjects into two groups. They gave one group an informational video of why and …Read More
How changing your story can change your life ~ Lori Gottlieb
“Once upon a time in a land far far away…” As a communication skill between a teller and a listener, “story” is a structure to convey an experience. With oral storytelling, my words paint on the canvas of the imagination to create sights, sounds, and even tastes and smells. The experience becomes even richer as …Read More
Want to Get Great at Something? Get a Coach
“I learned everything I need to know in medical school.” In one model of education, we learn from experts. They teach us what we need to know. They equip us with the knowledge and the skills to enter the real world. As we are pushed or jump out of the nest, we begin to fly …Read More
The Power in Sharing our Stories ~ Kao Kalia Yang
“If Hmong tears could reincarnate, we would rain the world with our sorrow.” Kao Kalia Yang spent her early years listening to the stories of her Hmong family in a Thai refugee camp. At six years old, her family immigrated to the United States. Her family had little to give, but they gave her stories. …Read More
Why incompetent people think they’re amazing
“We don’t know what we don’t know.” Beginner’s Mind When I first discovered the art of storytelling performance, I had beginner’s mind. Here was my process: Pick a story that I like. Learn the story. Tell it. I relied on “natural talent.” Vocal variety, facial expressions, and gestures came naturally to me. Other skills had …Read More
Stories are powerful medicine ~ Regi Carpenter
There was once a young woman whose only son died. Her heart was so heavy with grief that she could not go on. She went to Buddha and asked for a magic potion to take away the grief. “Of course,” said the Buddha, “I just need one small thing. You must bring me a mustard …Read More
Homework for Life ~ Matthew Dicks
“As you begin to take stock of your days, find those [story] moments — see them and record them — time will begin to slow down for you. The pace of your life will relax.” ~ Matthew Dicks, Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling Matthew Dicks assigns his …Read More
I’m tired of sitting down
I used to want to sit down when I’m tired. Now with an overabundance of virtual meetings on the computer, I’m just tired of sitting down. With my eyes on the computer screen, my head falls forward, shoulders hunch up, back rounds in a slouch, and my body gets stiff. When I look up at …Read More
Learning from Dirty Jobs ~ Mike Rowe
“My name’s Mike Rowe, and this is my job. I explore the country looking for people who aren’t afraid to get dirty — hard-working men and women who earn an honest living doing the kinds of jobs that make civilized life possible for the rest of us. Now, get ready to get dirty.”~ says Mike …Read More