Story is King
One pursuit that I’m working towards in the coming years will be to collect more stories. Material possessions are fleeting. Titles at work are meaningless (especially when the ones who hold them are unbearable), and achievements show grit but rarely hold much ground outside of the specific circle they encapsulate.
But stories are how we connect. And connection in life is what gives everything meaning.
Sony A7IV f/2.8 1/1250 ISO-100 70mm 1×1
We have been telling stories since… well, the dawn of man. One of the first-ever stories recorded is The Epic of Gilgamesh, which dates back to the third millennium BCE (or at least that’s what Google tells me). We, as a species, have been sitting around the fire telling stories, sharing experiences, and lessons since before we could even properly communicate through language. We’re wired for it.
Have you ever half-listened to someone telling an uninteresting story, that feeling of “what’s the quickest way out of this conversation?” Then suddenly, they mention something that sparks your interest: someone you also know, a destination you’ve also visited, a job you’ve done, or a hobby you love.
Now you’re hooked.
Locked into the conversation with a new breath of fresh air or a deeper perspective that you can now share, and you, too, are contributing to the conversation back and forth. There’s an unbreakable flow between you two (some would call that “The Zone,” but that’s for another day).
That feeling is the power of story, and it resonates with something deep within us.
Sony A7IV f/4.5 1/320 ISO-2000 70mm 3×4
You almost come to life as new breath is breathed within you, and that person you’re talking to instantly becomes more interesting to you because they’ve experienced something you value — so much that the person, in our minds, becomes worth remembering. And something even more powerful than that is when we call upon that person later in life for more perspective and insight. Now you’ve created a relationship with this person that is so very powerful. In some cases, you can create a lifelong friend.
In that, stories can do for you much more than money, status, or even credentials can.
Good stories open doors because the right story told to the right person can make them want to help you. It builds trust and connection faster than any résumé could.
Ever notice how some people seem to get lucky or get by with doing very little compared to your years of grinding? There are some people who appear in your life that just seem to skate on by without a hurdle to be seen. There’s a myriad of reasons as to why they seem to have it easier, but I’m willing to bet most cases are because this person has mastered how to make people feel something through stories.
A potential boss doesn’t care what your GPA is, but they will remember the story about the time you solved a problem under pressure, especially if it saved or made them money. Good stories tell future bosses what you’re about, what you’re capable of, and how capable you are of making them money. Have you ever wondered why nothing at work ever changes, and it’s not until the higher-ups really need something done that it actually gets done? Probably because you didn’t have a good enough story to tell them. One that would light a fire under them and get the ball rolling. Things in life don’t change until you are able to effectively communicate your intentions across to another. A good story will solve that.
It’s not about exaggerating or fabricating. It’s about living a life worth telling stories about.
So start by collecting stories. Do the things that scare you (as long as they’re still in line with your values).
Say yes to experiences you’ll want to talk about later. Put yourself in rooms where stories are unfolding and make them your own.
Collect stories and tell them well. That’s what im doing.
Sony A7IV f/4.5 1/1600 ISO-2500 45mm
