homegeown humor caps - craig harrison's expressions of ... · won a cavett award to have...

Craig Harrison’s

Homegrown Humour

Prospecting Your Past

To Uncover Your Hidden Story Treasures

Homegrown's all right with me,

homegrown is the way it should be,

Homegrown is a good thing,

plant that bell and let it rain.

— Neil Young

www.ExpressionsOfExcellence.com

www.HackinBoo.com

Prospect Your Past… To Uncover Hidden Story Treasures

Copyright © 2009 Craig Harrison. (510) 547-0664 www.HackinBoo.com

All Rights Reserved. www.ExpressionsOfExcellence.com

The Case For Telling Your Stories .............. 1

Some Types of Stories for Speakers........... 2

Echo An Archetype .................................. 3

Universal Truths and Common Themes ...... 4

Prospecting Your Past .............................. 5-6

Uncovering Your Signature Story............... 7

Honing In On Your Stories ........................ 8

Two Story Structures to Share Your Storied Past 9

RESOURCES:

Storytellers PEG.................................. 13-14 Recommended Resources..................... 15

Recommended Books........................... 16

About Craig Harrison ............................ 17

The Case for Telling Your Own Stories


All Rights Reserved. 1 www.ExpressionsOfExcellence.com

Premise: We’ve already heard others’ stories and they can tell theirs better than you. Yet you have stories nobody else has. And you’re the best one to tell your stories.

Conclusion: Your greatest gift to audiences is to share yourself through your (own) stories!

1. You have stories. They’re there, in your past. You just need to rediscover them.

2. Your stories can be life altering in scope, or short, simple and modest in scope. Each has value for listeners.

3. Universal truths and archetypes may be embedded in your stories, which help you reach, teach, touch and build trust with listeners.

4. Time and perspective allow you to review past experiences with fresh and wise eyes. New learning points will emerge from your past experiences.

5. Tragedy + Time = Comedy. Painful experiences become humourous over time

6. Secrets to finding funny material in your past: look for instances where…

7. "To be a person is to have a story to tell." — Isak Denesen

“We’re wired for stories, individually and collectively.

Since the time of Odysseus we’ve been told stories.

Since we were little kids we’ve been read and told stories.

This is how we’ve been conditioned to learn;

our morals and our values are taught through stories.”

— Gay Ducey Past President

NATIONAL STORYTELLING NETWORK Oracle Award recipient for

Distinguished National Service in Storytelling.

Types of Stories for Speakers Include…



Signature Story: It’s yours, like your signature! It’s the foundation of your

presentation. You’re known for it. It’s usually longer than

several minutes. It is powerful or profound, meaningful

and memorable. May be funny, serious, sad, significant.

Culled from your personal experience.

Success Story: A short story, case study or testimonial. Effective with

audiences, in meetings and with prospects.

Archetypal story: The Hero’s Journey, stories of Tricksters, Magicians and

Healers are familiar themes for us…they resonate on a

deep level with people all around the world.

(Read Craig’s article “Told to Sold” for more on this

topic: www.expressionsofexcellence.com/ARTICLES/toldtosold.html)

Illustrative Story: A story used to punctuate a point. May be told before or

after the learning point. Can be short (30" to 2 minutes).

Folk & Fairy Tales: Traditional. Have many variations. Vary by culture.

Each may have its own rules or ethics for telling.

Third Party Stories: Attribution appropriate. Do you have permission to tell?

Especially if it’s personal or sensitive in nature, it’s

important to get prior approval, and cite source when

telling (assuming source desires credit).

Apocryphal: Beware the “Starfish” story, “Lighthouse” story or “Rocks

in the Jar” story if at all possible. They’re overexposed.

Be original. Yet, “The Carpenter” story and others are

poignant and also evergreen.

Self-Effacing Stories Be vulnerable. Tell about "when things went wrong,"

about being "in the wrong place at the wrong time" or

"putting your foot in your mouth."

Echo An Archetype



Stories that echo archetypal themes connect

subconsciously with listeners. Listeners

already know and live them. Whether they

naturally recognize them explicitly or not,

the stories resonate with listeners.

! The Hero’s Journey

! Coming of Age

! The Acquiring of Wisdom

! Pact with the Devil

! The Fish Out of Water

! Tricking the Trickster

Types we know:

! Cinderella’s Story

! Achilles Heel

! Creation Stories

! David vs. Goliath

! The Emperor Has No Clothes

! Horatio Alger Stories

! ______________________ !

! ______________________ !

''Do not be satisfied with the stories that come before you.

Unfold your own myth!" — Jalal-al-Din Rumi

Universal Truths and Common Themes



Universal Truth Story

Risk leads to reward

The Golden Rule

Perseverance / Never giving up

Thou shall not steal

Thou shall not lie

Slow & steady wins the race/Haste makes waste

Have Faith / Keep the faith

Honor the process

Seek to understand, then be understood

Themes / Topics / Subjects Story

Leadership

It takes two to communicate

Customer Service

Integrity

Responsibility

Always at choice

Language, Self-image

Recognition

Doing what we don't want to do

Rapport

Diversity

Procrastination

Inquisitive by nature

Ripple effect

Working together / Not working together

The power of words

Coming on too strong

Leading without title

Counting chickens before they're hatched

Your Themes / Learning Points Story

Create your own list of universal truths or core messages and analogous stories that reinforce those points. Download a simple form for tracking said stories here: www.expressionsofexcellence.com/NSA/storytracker.pdf

Prospecting Your Past



A FIRST for Humor FIRST TIMES offer a natural place to look for humor! And, everyone can relate.

Your first day at school: ___________________________________________

______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ First overnight at camp: ___________________________________________

______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ First pimple: ____________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Your first girlfriend / boyfriend: ______________________________________

______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ First kiss: ______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ First breakup: ___________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ First beer / tobacco chew / mixed drink: ______________________________

______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Your first trip overseas: ___________________________________________

______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Your first job: ___________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ First time you saw your partner:_____________________________________

______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

Prospecting Your Past continued



Your first wife / husband: __________________________________________

______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

Your first million (earned / lost): _____________________________________

______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

Your first audit: __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

Your first arrest: _________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

THINGS WENT WRONG! _________________________________________

______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

A BRUSH WITH FAME? __________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

YOU WERE IN THE WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME: __________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

YOU PUT YOUR FOOT IN YOUR MOUTH: ___________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

MISUNDERSTANDINGS OCCURRED: ________________________________

______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENED: __________________________________

______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

YOU WERE A FISH OUT OF WATER: _________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Uncovering Your Signature Story



What do you speak about? _________________________________________

What is your name? ________________________________________________

Where were you born?_____________ _________________________________

What position in the family are you? (Only child, oldest/youngest of _, middle, etc.)

________________________________________________________________

Where did you grow up? ____________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Was your childhood happy, sad, lonely, tumultuous? Describe: ______________

________________________________________________________________

What are your most vivid childhood memories of?_________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Describe your favorite smell from childhood?_____________________________

________________________________________________________________

If your life had a title what would it be?__________________________________

What themes are prevalent in your life?_________________________________

What’s your motto? ________________________________________________

Ever do anything extraordinary? ______________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Ever witness an extraordinary event? __________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Ever have a brush with fame? ________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

What one individual (other than a parent) influenced you the most, and how? ___

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Honing In On Your Stories



Opening Line:_____________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Set the Scene (location, day/date/time):_________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Name and Describe the Character(s): __________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Describe the Action (Sights, Sounds, Smells, Colors, etc.):__________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Drama: __________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Climax: __________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Moral/Conclusion/Twist: _____________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

What is its Universal Quality? (What’s in it for the audience?) ________________

________________________________________________________________

Now Give Your Story a Title! _________________________________________

Two Story Structures To Share Your Storied Past!



The Story Spine

(courtesy of Kat Koppett,

author, TRAINING TO IMAGINE)

Generic Story Spine Once upon a time…

Everyday… But one day… Because of that… Because of that… Because of that… : : Until finally… Ever since then…

And the moral of the story…

(optional)

Success Story format SETTING:

Several sentences to set the context and frame the action.

SITUATION:

What is the challenge, the obstacle, the impediment or task at hand? (Several more sentences to set up the success.)

SOLUTION:

How did you resolve the conflict? Accomplish the task? Utilize your skills, experience and judgment to help your client succeed? (Do tell!)

[What does it say about you?]

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You've got STORIES! Prospecting Your Past to Uncover Your Own Stories

By Craig Harrison www.HackinBoo.com

If you've been in professional speaking for more than a year or two you’ve no doubt heard countless versions of the Lighthouse Story, the Starfish Story and other rehashed stories. At conferences and meetings they're repeated ad nauseam. The equivalent of "hack humor" in comedy, these stories are the cockroaches of the speaking industry…they cannot be eradicated and will outlive us all. Every new speaker it seems trots them out as if they're freshly minted. And NSA and CAPS members recount their own horror stories regarding speakers (not all of them newbies) telling OPS: Other People's Stories. What's worse: another speaker telling your story badly from the platform, or telling it better than you? Either way, it's an ethics violation, as well as a signal to others a speaker's not-ready-for-prime-time. Many speakers lower their head and murmur that they don't have great stories since they haven't beaten cancer, founded a Fortune-50 company or won a Nobel Prize. And yet you don't have to have survived a bullet to the head, turned around a failing airline or even won a Cavett award to have stories to tell. Truth be told, you've got stories, you just need to uncover them! The Best Stories: Unique Yet Universal What makes a speaker's story compelling? For starters, it's their story. Not a story gleaned from Reader's Digest, the Chicken Soup for the Soul® series, or another speaker's repertoire. Authenticity reigns. Audiences sense when a story is fictitious or appropriated from other sources. It's fine that your story is personal and originated with you, yet for the audience to embrace it the story should have universal appeal. Is there a universal theme found within your story? One that audience members can relate to? If not, then the story isn't serving your audience. For example: we can all relate to stories with these familiar themes: ✔ The coming of age ✔ Acquiring of wisdom ✔ The hero's journey ✔ Finding prince charming ✔ Haste making waste ✔ Practice making perfect In fact, the list of universal truths is a lengthy one. For any story you're considering using, identify for yourself the universal appeal it offers its listeners. History, Her Story, Our Story Everyone has stories. Your family has them: about how you were conceived, born or bred. About how your ancestors arrived at this country. Your religion has them, as do your religious leaders! Your organization has them: about the founders, the incorporating

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of the business and its development. Your nation has them: about its founders, wars, famines, transformations and growth. Cultures have them. They may take the form of myths and legends. And you yourself have stories: of growing up, of life's milestones and your travels. It's time to uncover your own stories. Uncovering Your Story Gems People constantly ask me: "How do I find my own stories?" It's hard to do in isolation yet easy to do with the help of others. Engage a friend, colleague or family member and spend some time together. Have them ask you the following questions and capture what emerges (through notes or recording). Many of the questions pertain to the first time you did something. While this list is by no means exhaustive, it is guaranteed to generate stories. ✔ Your first day at school ✔ First overnight at camp

✔ First pimple First pet

✔ Your first girlfriend / boyfriend ✔ First kiss

✔ First breakup ✔ First beer / tobacco chew / mixed drink

✔ Your first trip overseas ✔ Your first job

✔ First time you saw your partner ✔ Meeting your (first) wife / husband

✔ Your first million (made or lost!) ✔ Your first audit

✔ Your first arrest ✔ First child or grandchild

Other places to find stories: ✔ What was your family like?

✔ Where did you grow up and what made it distinctive?

✔ Describe your favorites from childhood? Smell? food? Hangout? Favorite Relative?

✔ Ever do anything extraordinary?

✔ Ever witness an extraordinary event?

✔ Ever have a brush with fame? (An encounter with a famous person)

By using this process I've generated stories about the Great Dane on the corner that inhibited my paper route, the time in Las Vegas I made Sinbad the comedian laugh, a mishap at a Chinese banquet hall in Hong Kong (my Chinese wetting banquet), how I sold lemonade to the National Guard during the riots in Berkeley in the 60's and more. Each story has a moral, learning point or universal truth embedded within it that others appreciate. My story resonates with listeners, as will yours when it taps a universal theme or truth. Listeners will either inhabit your story with you, or it will remind them of their own story. Either way, you've connected! Congratulations.

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Types of Stories As a professional speaker your use of stories should be strategic. More than to entertain yourself and your audience, your story should tie in to your main theme or to learning point you're discussing. You may be telling your signature story, or using a story to illustrate a point you've just made, or are about to make. You may use a story to transition from one part of a presentation to another, as a change of pace or to focus the audience's attention onto a third party instead of talking directly to them about themselves. Stories validate and reinforce your message and offer an outlet for thoughtful reflection. Story On! Now that I've convinced you that you indeed do have stories in your past you can safely use to benefit your audiences, and helped you uncover them, it's your job to hone them. How?

✔ Write them out. ✔ Tell them informally to your friends to see what interests them, what they want to

hear more about, and what the stories mean to them. ✔ Share them at your Toastmasters club, and in your other presentations.

✔ Find a Story Swap (a regular gathering of storytellers where stories are freely exchanged) and ask for feedback before sharing yours. (Check local libraries or storytelling guilds for more information on local swaps.)

✔ Record your stories. Now, pour yourself a glass of wine and listen to your own stories. How can you improve?

✔ Ask for feedback from your audiences and students, through written evaluations, to learn which stories stuck, which stuck in their craw, and which are their favorites? Why?

✔ Practice, practice, practice. ✔ Listen to storytelling on National Public Radio: Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home

Companion, Ira Glass's This American Life, and the oral histories of StoryCorps. ✔ Enjoy stories online at www.themoth.org.

And then you too will live happily every after!

Craig Harrison tells stories under the name Hackin' 'Boo. He got his start melding stories with silliness when he went door-to-door in his hometown of Berkeley telling as an eleven year old selling Recycled Jokes. Visit his storytelling site www.HackinBoo.com or enjoy story resources at www.ExpressionsOfExcellence.com.

Heather Rogers Dr. Vincent Muli Wa Kituku Kirk Waller

Doug Stevenson Corporate Mythologist Craig "Hackin' 'Boo"

StoryTheatre Susan Luke Craig Harrison

Storytellers PEG Just $25/year www.nsaspeaker.org

Welcome to the

Storytellers PEG For just $25…

Helping keynoters, trainers, consultants, coaches, subject matter experts and service providers to leverage the power of story as a form of communication, persuasion and leadership. Encouraging current and aspiring storytellers and NSA members-at-large to develop and hone their understanding of how to craft, tell and improve their stories. Our PEG provides skill development, networking, community, resources and support.

DELIVERABLES

! Special Programming at Fall and Winter Conferences and the annual Summer Convention

! Teleseminars monthly on various aspects of storytelling: vocal

techniques, storytelling in business, audience dynamics, archetypal stories, story lines and writing, comedic stories, etc.

! Articles in our quarterly newsletter and regular e-zines. Archives.

! Leadership Opportunities: We have openings to coordinate e-zines and listserv.

! Listserv planned for questions, tips, problem-solving, networking…

2009-10 Chairman: Vincent Kituku: (208) 376-8724 or [email protected]

Call NSA today to join! (480) 968-255

Recommended Resources



Join www.sc-cc.com/ and/or local guilds & associations: www.sc-cc.com/groups.html

Become a student of storytelling. Listen to storytelling on the radio & 'Net.

www.storysave.ca cbc.ca StoryCorps.org

In the US, National Storytelling Network: www.storynet.org;

Attend the annual National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough TN, Oct 1-3, 2010

www.storytellingfoundation.net/festival/about-fest.htm

On NPR: Garrison Keillor!s Prairie Home Companion, Ira Glass's This American Life.

NSA resources:

Become a student of the storytellers in CAPS & NSA: Grady Jim Robinson, Fripp,

Kelly Swanson, Jeanne Robinson, Susan Luke, Lou Heckler, Jon Alston, Warren

Evans, Naomi Rhode, the comedic timing of the late Bob Murphey, and others.

Articles of Craig!s on Storytelling:

! What Toastmasters And Storytellers Can Learn From Each Other (PDF)

www.expressionsofexcellence.com/ARTICLES/toastmasters+tellers=win-win.pdf

! Become a Two-Minute Storyteller (8/06 edition of Toastmaster magazine):

www.expressionsofexcellence.com/ARTICLES/two_minute_stories.htm

! Storytelling in China:: www.expressionsofexcellence.com/articles.html#China

! From Told to Sold: www.expressionsofexcellence.com/ARTICLES/toldtosold.html

Craig’s Storytelling Handouts (PDFs):

! Call & Response Technique: www.laughlovers.us/Handouts/Improv_Call&Reponse.pdf

! Story Tell, Story Sell — Storytelling for Speakers:

www.expressionsofexcellence.com/NSA/Storytell_NSA_NYC.pdf

! Patricia Fripp’s wonderful Story Openers (not on her great website www.fripp.com)

E-mail Craig or Fripp for a copy: [email protected]

Recommended Books An assortment of books on storytelling, and

of books of stories from around the world

Craig Harrison (510) 547-0664 13 www.ExpressionsOfExcellence.com

Bennett, William J, The Book of Virtues, Simon & Schuster, 1993

Cabral, Len and Manduca, Mia, Len Cabral’s Storytelling Book, Neal-Schuman Publishers, 1997

Cole, Joanna, Best-Loved Folk Tales of the World, Anchor Books, 1983

Collins, Brandilyn, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets A Novelist Can Learn From Actors, Wiley, 2002

Davis, Donald, Telling Your Own Stories, August House, 1993

Despain, Pleasant, Tales of Wisdom & Justice, August House, 2001

Erdos, Richard and Ortiz, Alfonso, American Indian Myths and Legends, Pantheon Books, NY 1984.

Gargiulo, Terrence and Scott, Gini Graham, In The Land of Difficult People, 24 Timeless Tales Reveal How To Tame Beasts At Work, Amacom, 2008.

Han, Carolyn & Jay, The Demon King and Other Festival Folktales of China, A Kolowalu Book of U. of Hawai’I Press, 1995

Han, Carolyn and Jay, Why Snails Have Shells: Minority and Han Folktales of China, A Kolowalu Book of University of Hawai’I Press 1993

Holt, David and Mooney Bill, More Ready-to-Tell Tales from Around the World, August House, 2000

Lipman, Doug, Improving Your Storytelling: Beyond the Basics …, August House Inc, 1999

MacDonald, Margaret Read, (She has dozens of books to choose from and Storytelling collections too!).

Norfolk, Bobby & Sherry, The Moral of the Story: Folktales for Character Development, August House, 1999

Robinson, Grady Jim, "Did I Ever Tell You About the Time…", McGraw Hill, 2000.

Rubenstein, Robert, Curtains Up! Theatre Games & Storytelling, Fulcrum Publishing, Golden CO, 2000

Rydell, Kate, A Beginners Guide to Storytelling, National Storytelling Press, 2003.

Silverman, Lori, Wake Me Up When The Data Is Over, Jossey-Bass, 2006

Simon, Henry W., 100 Great Operas and their Stories, Anchor Books, 1989

Singer, Isaac Bashevis, Stories for Children, Farrar/Straus/Giroux, 1984

Stevenson, Doug, Story Theater Method: Strategic Storytelling in Business, Cornelia Press, 2008

Thurber, James, Fables for Our Time, Perennial Library (Harper & Row), 1990

Whacker, Mary B. and Silverman, Lori, Stories Trainers Tell: 55 Ready-to-Use Stories to Make Training Stick, Pfeiffer (John Wiley & Sons), San Francisco, 2003

Yolen, Jane, Favorite Folk Tales From Around the World, Pantheon Books, 19

Visit www.ExpressionsOfExcellence.com or www.HackinBoo.com

for more professional resources of Craig's

CRAIG HARRISON has been profiled in The Wall Street Journal and Business Week, interviewed by 60 MINUTES and BBC RADIO, quoted by the Orange County Register and his columns and articles have been published in the San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Examiner, Storytelling, Storyline, California Job Journal, Customer Service Newsletter, Support World, Customer Communicator, Transaction World, The Professional Caterer, Executive Excellence and Toastmaster magazine.

Craig is an instructor for the UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA CRUZ OF SILICON VALLEY, and his clients include UNITED AIRLINES, CIBC, WILSON SPORTING GOODS, HILTON

HOTELS, IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, COMPUSA, AT&T, Pfizer, THE GO GREEN

INITIATIVE, NOLO.COM, KPMG, MPI, ASAE, CBC

Craig combines story, humor, story, wisdom and practical sense to help you communicate with confidence and clarity. Let him help you experience the sweet taste of success.

BACKGROUND

As a manager, consultant, publisher and curriculum developer in Silicon Valley Craig developed his digital dexterity, helping the technical world train and communicate more effectively. His work with a database company, publishing houses and a consulting firm also helped Craig develop his strong customer service orientation.

As a director of communications with the non-profit PROS FOR KIDS, Craig coached with Olympians and Hall of Fame athletes, helping young people enhance their self-esteem, become confident communicators and recognize the importance of healthy living.

As a youth basketball coach Craig has led teams domestically and internationally for non-profits SPORTS FOR UNDERSTANDING, PROS FOR KIDS and MACCABI Youth Sports Programs, and Oakland's HEAD-ROYCE and COLLEGE PREPARATORY High schools.

Craig is past president of California chapter boards of the NATIONAL SPEAKERS ASSOCIATION and the INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE ASSOCIATION, founder of NSA’s STORYTELLERS PEG, 2007-08 Vice Chair of the STORYTELLING ASSOCIATION OF

CALIFORNIA, and a past District Governor and Distinguished Toastmaster with TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL.

homegeown humor caps - craig harrison's expressions of ... · won a cavett award to have...

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