You have something to say. Well, you’re supposed to have something to say. “They” expect you to have something to say. You sit down to write. Nothing comes. A few words finally trickle out. They’re awful! &#%!@?! You are stuck. And being stuck sucks. Being stuck sets off a cacophony of mental commentary. The harder you [...]
Who’s on your mind right now? In this uncertain time of the coronavirus, the people I’m thinking about are: Striving to stay fit and sane while honoring social distancing rules in a crowded metropolitan neighborhood Navigating a new “workplace” from a makeshift home office, having just started a new job on Monday Terribly disappointed they won’t [...]
“What are you reading?” It’s the question I love to ask when I meet others who value great stories, good writing, and creative thinking. When the answer strikes a chord, I add the title to my Goodreads “want to read” list. And when a friend turns the question around on me, I’m happy to share my [...]
Ann, Barb, and Chuck walk into a meeting room. Sounds like the start of a joke, right? Actually, it’s the start of a storytelling project. These three managers have been designated “storytellers” for an event their company is hosting next month. A crowd of their peers will come from around the world, pour into a massive [...]
I’m sitting in a coffee shop at F and 7th NW. The sound is deafening, crowds of people and every seat taken. Because I am a stranger here in D.C, I have to ask where the line is to order. Shockingly, there is no one in front of me. At home in Chicago, I get my [...]
Anyone who’s been in a Story Mode workshop will attest: Jill Pollack and I do not play it safe. We seldom use PowerPoint. We crack jokes and tell stories. We get everyone on their feet, talking to us and to each other—usually within the first five minutes. We invite people to play games, draw, and be downright [...]
My husband lost his job this month. Quite unexpectedly, and effective immediately. For his employer, this was purely a business decision—a cost-cutting measure that would save the company some money by eliminating some salaries and overhead expenses. For Jim, this meant immediate change. He walked out of the office unemployed and feeling _______________. How would you [...]
What happens when you dare to not follow Conventional Wisdom? What does conventional wisdom even mean, and who gets to decide what is wise and what is folly? In 1958 John Kenneth Galbraith was trying to persuade the people of the U.S. that our economic model was promoting income disparity. (Yes, we knew this was a [...]
Ask me how to be a better storyteller. What’s the one thing I need to focus on to tell a better story? Where should my story start? Why are my stories so boring? In Story Mode, we field questions like these all the time—especially from people who want to deliver better presentations at work. Naturally, I [...]
I call myself The Corporate Poet and Cutter of Crap. I have tattoos and a nose ring. And I wear Wonder Woman high tops to work. Some days, I swap the high tops for more formal footwear. But the tats and piercing are permanent, and the unusual title is part of my personal brand. In spite [...]