Got Story? If You Build It, They Will Answer Your Call To Action

Robert Rosen, former dean of UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television, who co-taught the course ‘Navigating a Narrative World’ with Peter Guber, knows a thing or two about crafting engaging, memorable and resonant stories.

“Stories put all the key facts into an emotional context,” Rosen said. “The information in a story doesn’t just sit there as it would in a logical proposition. Instead, it’s built to create suspense.” And the building blocks of all compelling stories, whether they’re told in person, in the pages of a book, or via actors on a screen or monitor, are challenge, struggle, and resolution.

Peter Guber, Dr. Marco Iacoboni, & Robert Rosen

Peter Guber, Dr. Marco Iacoboni, & Robert Rosen

Here, then, is how you build a story:

First … get your listeners’ attention with an unexpected challenge or question.

Next… give your listeners an emotional experience by narrating the struggle to overcome that challenge or to find the answer to the opening question.

Finally … galvanize your listeners’ response with an eye-opening resolution that calls them to action.

And, all purposeful stories are a call to action. But you have to make the call.

 

MORE ABOUT TELL TO WIN

blog-telltowin-linkTo validate the power of telling purposeful stories, Guber includes in this book a remarkably diverse number of ‘voices’ – master tellers with whom he’s shared experiences. They include YouTube founder Chad Hurley, NBA champion Pat Riley, clothing designer Norma Kamali, “Mission to Mars” scientist Gentry Lee, Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank, former South African president Nelson Mandela, magician David Copperfield, film director Steven Spielberg, novelist Nora Roberts, rock legend Gene Simmons, and physician and author Deepak Chopra.
 
After listening to this extraordinary mix of voices, you’ll know how to craft, deliver – and own – a story that is truly compelling, one capable of turning others into viral advocates for your goal.