It’s the Story and the Telling of the Story…

That’s actually a line from one of my own poems.  And you’d think by now I would have “gotten” that message; that for me as a creative person who also has to make a living, that’s all there is – telling the story.  I’ve been telling stories my whole life – as teenager writing quick iambic pentameter poetry for the high school literary magazine; as an advertising and marketing professional selling cellular service, digital technology, financial services and on and on.  And now as a writer-for-hire and a poet/playwright.

That’s all there is – in life, business, creative works – the beginning, middle, end.  And at the end it’s not just about “what happens” in the story but how do we want the listener, viewer, audience, prospect, client to feel.  And what actions do we want those feelings to provoke.

I’m quite red-faced about this epiphany and feel like Bill Murray in “Scrooged”; when Carol Kane as the Ghost of Christmas Present wallops him with the toaster oven to emphasize how the knowledge he needed (love) had been in his face the whole time.

Telling the story of your character, business, service – it’s essential and I heard it and preached it to my clients and friends whenever they stood still long enough.  Yet I have been the cigarette-huffing physician counseling patients to quit smoking.  Oh well, I’m a blue ribbon performer in the better-late-than-never department!