Good Storytelling

Storytelling is hot. Management and leadership books abound with advice about how leaders need to use stories to communicate their vision, pass on corporate culture, and even sell to clients.
I recently interviewed master storyteller, Robert Fish, PhD about the art and craft of effective storytelling. In this 6 minute video, Robert reviews mistakes many storytellers make, and gives advice for how to make your storytelling more impactful. Hint: get to the point and use emotion! He also tells you when NOT to use stories.

Interview with Robert Fish: 

Robert FIsh from Rick Gilbert on Vimeo.

Who are (were) your mentors? If you have the pleasure of seeing the new musical, "A Night With Janis Joplin," you will likely think more deeply about that question. While in NY, Ray and I went to see this show just off Times Square. The music is great, but what really hit me in the gut was the portrayal of Janis' mentors: Bessie Smith, Nina Simone, Etta James among others. 

One number in particular choked me up. Janis is flanked by these musical mentors. She steps forward and begins singing more forcefully as the spot lights on Bessie and Nina slowly fade. Janis has learned, and now is on her own. She has become her own person. 

All this brought to mind two of my mentors from SF State University, Bob Dreher and Bob Suczek. Unfortunately, they both have been gone for many years and I am not able to tell them what a difference they made in my life. Are your mentors still alive? I'd urge you to reach out to them and let them know what an impact they made. I'd also urge you to see this show. I'd guess it will trigger fond memories of people who could see in you talent and potential you could not see in yourself.

Bob Suczek                              Bob Dreher

My fondness for Janis Joplin and her music started on a sunny afternoon in October, 1966. I was wondering in Golden Gate park with a new SLR camera when I heard music like I'd never heard before. It was a band playing on the back of a flatbed truck to an audience of several hundred called Big Brother and Holding Company with their new singer, Janis Joplin. Since she was not well known yet, it was easy to get close. I shot a whole roll of film that day, at one point getting up on the truck and photographing her from 10 feet away. Only later did I (or any of us) learn about the events in her life that caused her to pour out her pain in the music. She flamed out early in life. If you want to learn more, don't miss this show. Also, reconnect with your mentors. It will be good for both of you.

From that afternoon in GG Park:

This weekend, the Monterey Jazz Festival honored tenor sax player, Wayne Shorter. The acknowledgement was hosted by Herbie Hancock. Both men played with Miles Davis' second great quartet in the mid to late 60s. I had photographed Herbie and Wayne several years ago and donated the photos to a silent auction to raise money for jazz education. In asking them to personally sign the photos, I got to meet them. I interviewed both about improvisation saying, "I work with executives and urge them to be more improvisational in their business lives. What advice would you have for them?"

Herbie: "They need to be more vulnerable and trust themselves more." His companion chimed in: "Because nobody else does." Herbie signing his photo: 

I asked Wayne about improv and business. "Business serves as a resistance to the creative force, like resistence serves to lift an airplane. Art and business is a partnership." He talked in Zen-like riddles: "The longest way is the shortest way. When it seems all is lost, that is the time you win." 

After dinner, Herbie introduced Wayne by saying, "I'm going to interview myself about Wayne," and proceded to move from side to side posing questions to himself. Wayne told several stories: When they first played with Miles, there was  a recording session with no rehearsal. Miles said to him, "Do you know my tunes?" The tape started rolling and Wayne blew them out of the water.When asked if he rehearses his band before a gig, he responded, "How can you rehearse the unknown?" He went on to say that it is only in struggle that something good happens.

These world-class jazz musicians reflected just what the executives have told us, "Get right to the point, and be flexible when directions change."