Have you ever found yourself tapping your foot and thinking (or begging out loud), “Just get to the point?”
Getting straight to the point is apparently not that sticky.
And perhaps not the strongest way to inspire action.
As it turns out, there’s more power in a story. A good story fires up our neurons and takes us on a journey. It’s like a “flight simulator for the brain.”
A good story drips sticky.
Why does mental simulation work? It works because we can’t imagine events or sequences without evoking the same modules of the brain that are evoked in real physical activity.
While a credible idea makes people believe and an emotional idea makes people care, the right stories make people act.
Heath and Heath suggest there are three basic plots that can be used to classify more than 80 percent of the inspirational Chicken Soup stories–“stories that uplift, motivate, and energize.”
1. Challenge Plot: A protagonist overcomes a formidable challenge and succeeds, like David taking down Goliath. Or the Chilean miners surviving 69 days in the belly of the earth.
2. Connection Plot: A relationship bridges a gap–racial, class, ethnic, religious, demographic, or otherwise. Like the story of the Good Samaritan. Or the story (stories) of the Chilean miners that captured the hearts of people from all over the world.
3. Creativity Plot: Someone makes a mental breakthrough by solving a long-standing puzzle or attacking a problem in an innovative way. It’s also called the MacGyver plot. (I loved that show.) We also read these stories in the rescue of the Chilean miners.
Stories can almost single-handedly defeat the Curse of Knowledge. In fact, they naturally embody most of the SUCCESs framework. Stories are almost always Concrete. Most of them have Emotional and Unexpected elements. The hardest part of using stories effectively is making sure that they’re Simple–that they reflect your core message.
Stories have the amazing dual power to simulate and to inspire. And most of the time we don’t even have to use much creativity to harness these powers–we just need to be ready to spot the good ones that life generates every day.
Jesus was the master storyteller. The stories He told have stuck with us for centuries. And changed lives.
Billy Coffey is a master storyteller. He has the ability to take the simplest event and turn it into a profound and sticky message. Glynn Young thinks so, too.
L.L. Barkat’s stories have inspired me to sit in the yard every day and play towards God. And to drink tea.
And now my friends Tami and Toni have launched a new website called @stickyJesus in celebration of their new book by the same name that will be launched later this month. Their mission is to inspire Christ followers as they go online into all the world to tell their stories, to share The Story.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that “sticky” and “stories” are buzzwords today.
For such a time as this.
The discussion on Made to Stick continues over at High Calling Blogs–where I’m very tardy this week. I hope Laura doesn’t make me stand in the corner.
I’m with you on Billy for sure.
😀
I never thought about how Chicken soup stories work that way and I write them! Thanks for opening my eyes!
I thought that was pretty good, too. Really simplifies the plot thing.
You might be tardy, but you showed up for class.
I wrestled and squirmed and called in hopeless. I couldn’t get it done. Who knows, I still might…
I so appreciate your post. Story is not my strength. But it’s so effective, it should be.
(Just watched a MythBusters episode the other day that was all MacGyver stunts.)
I almost didn’t. Maybe Laura won’t notice. Though Claire noticed I missed PhotoPlay this time. Just can’t get away with anything.
Sticky Jesus. That is too amusing.
Like sacred jelly beans?
(Oh, I hope you added this link over at Laura’s THC post. : )
Yes, Ma’m. I Linky-linked.
See? It’s sticky. Bet you won’t forget it.
I keep reading about Sticky — and looking at the pile of books beside my bed and thinking…. no, I can’t add another.
But, now, your stickiness has convinced me to add another!
🙂
Sorry ’bout that. Not. 😀
“A good story fires up our neurons and takes us on a journey”–never thought about it like that before. Thanks for a great post–on stories, Chicken Soup plots, and overall inspiration. Nice job…
Thanks, Kenda. And interestingly, those kinds of plots are all through the Bible.
Ah-ha! I came looking for you! I’m still getting used to this new system, so almost missed you. Havent’ been getting the email notices when folks visit. Have to figure that one out. But this is a great post, Sandra, so I’m glad you came to class. Tardy or not :).
Thanks for throwing “@StickyJesus: how to live our your faith online,” into the mix today. We hope that His message of hope rises above the noise online and finds a place to dwell and live in this space, and in hearts.
Thanks for modeling creative, inspiring, and “real” ways that Christians can #LiveSticky online. Our words really do matter now more than ever before in history. The love behind the words, even moreso.
I MUST come back to this page—love the pulse of possibility and the spirit of the pen that lives here! My neurons are officially fired up!
Thank you again!