Seven Keys to Good Storytelling | Josh Campbell | TEDxMemphis

If you're living your best life, which I know you're doing, I've seen your Instagrams, if you're living your best life,

storytelling

has to be a part of your life, you're going to have to present your boss with a proposal. presentation to your employees a friend will ask you to give you will give a compliment so these

storytelling

opportunities are coming so you have to prepare for them you have to practice and the best way to practice and prepare is to find your voice your voice in front of a story and throwing yourself in front of a crowd of people, your ability to connect with an audience and the way you do that is by telling your story, the events that we organize, I present them and in the end people always come to me. and they say the same thing they said I would love to do that but I don't have a story to tell and I always tell them well you know that's not true because everyone has a story to tell, that's something we tell ourselves. that's the excuse we give for not doing it what we're really saying when we say I don't think I have a story that anyone wants to hear TED talks are about revolutionary ideas this is the idea that people want to hear your Isn't it the worst story when Does someone take away your excuse?

I am a teacher. I do that a lot, so these opportunities are coming, you need to practice and the connection with the audience is already there, why are you listening to me well? Now, because I'm in front of you, you're looking this way, you really have no choice, it's up to me to maintain that connection, so the

seven

keys

to

good

storytelling are not how to tell a

good

story, but how to avoid it. telling bad stories, so I've made some slides with some of my favorite storytellers to help me out. The first key is to be prepared, but not over-prepared, for every trip you want to make from A to B, but it's the back roads and back tracks that are the longest.

The shortcuts and shortcuts that make the journey worthwhile have an outline, but give yourself some space so you can explore that part of the story that really works. Give yourself an escape route so you can get out of that part of the story. story that isn't, don't let preparation get in the way of a good story right now my dad is saying only Josh would make lack of preparation a virtue, you don't have to be funny because let's face it folks, you're not funny . I'm sorry, everyone always tells me that. I wish I could tell my story, but I'm just not funny and you have that old trope: you always start your presentation with a joke, that will relax your audience, but if that joke falls flat, the connection is lost. people want to feel connected more than laugh name names people always say I want to tell my story but I don't want this person to be embarrassed I want to tell my story but I don't want this person to know that I think about them.

I want to tell my story, but I'd be embarrassed if my mom found out I hooked up with that guy. If you can't use someone's name, they have power over your story. Don't let someone with no name. determine your story for you it's not a therapy session if you can't make peace with your story then your audience won't be able to that doesn't mean you can't show emotions it's okay 75% of our winners are Spills are the guys and girls who cry about it, but it's not the audience's job to give you closure. You don't want your audience to feel sympathy for you.

You want them to feel empathy if they feel sorry for you. They are thinking about you and your well-being and are no longer thinking about your story. Make peace with your story before you go on stage. Dad from Memphis. One of our great storytellers starts at the beginning of your story and ends at the end. It sounds simple, but when I sit down and meet with people, usually what happens is they start talking in about five minutes and then they say, "Well, I guess the story really starts here." Well, if it really starts here, what are you talking about for the last five minutes?

I have no idea what your story is. It was nice to know that Grandma came from Bavaria in the 1830s or something. What does it have to do with the cat you just bought? So let's start at the beginning and the end. So many narrators. It got to that point that they wanted to get to, they have a great closing line, the audience has had their cathartic release and it should be walking off stage, they should have that George Costanza moment from I'm leaving here, thanks guys, but what people ? do instead, since they're going well, I guess the moral of the story is and then for two minutes they moralize you, you have to trust that your audience will get the lesson that you want them to get or they will get it. get the lesson they want to learn, don't rob them of that by telling them the moral of the story, the devils in the details and those details are boring, trust your audience, you and your audience are human beings you are having a dialogue with.

With them, you are the only ones who talk, but in your head they respond to you. They have shared experiences as human beings that do not need to be explained in great detail. If I tell you that my dog ​​is my best friend, do you understand? What I'm saying is do I need to spend two minutes talking about the way he looks at my face or where he meets me at the door every day or sometimes who I talk to. I think he's the only one who really understands me. I don't have a dog. I'm more of a cat lover.

I don't have a cat either. Look, that's me trying to be funny. You know, I don't always work, but you know what I'm saying. I don't need to spend two minutes telling it. you my dog ​​is my best friend you understand we are together let's move on you understand me and I understand you the audience is on your side keep them there the connection is established again you understand your audience they are your peers they are the people who live in the city, who don't make a controversial statement unless it's necessary, unless it's totally vital to the story.

I told you before that I look at their Instagram accounts and then I said they weren't funny, that's what. It's a good idea on my part, ten percent of you probably retired a long time ago just for that, don't offend your audience, so those are my

seven

keys

, but the most important one is this, the secret key, to Sometimes the details are important, sometimes the morals. Sometimes you have to offend your audience to get them to listen. I can't tell you what your story is and I can't tell you how to tell it. The only way to do it is to practice, go find a microphone. in front of an audience find your voice be the hero of your own story be the protagonist