Fast Five: Stories are Forever

We know that stories 'stick'. The Heath Brothers outstanding Made to Stick belongs on most serious storytellers' shelves. Stories transmit information, emotion, warnings, principles, and above all, hope. 

1. Made to Stick uses an acronym (SUCCES) to define the key elements of stories. The best narratives are 

Simple
Unexpected
Concrete
Credible
Emotional
Stories

2. Stories are timeless. The "hero's journey" is the scaffolding of myth, legend, and entertainment. Joseph Campbell wrote the classic The Hero with a Thousand Faces sharing the structure of the monomyth. 

Whether it's Ulysses, Superman, Luke Skywalker, or Katniss Everdeen, the hero's journey has common origins and patterns. 

3. Stories give us hope, not guarantees. 

I shared this story with my team yesterday. Dean Smith's Tarheels trailed Duke by eight points with seventeen seconds to go...and tied the game in regulation to win in overtime. Miracles happen.


4. The best stories reveal the power of work and time. 

John Wooden's Pyramid of Success includes 'faith and patience' near the top, which I express to players as belief and time. 

Unimaginable obstacles yield to belief and time. 

5. The power of connection and sacrifice deserve study and recognition. 

The sacrifices most of us make are often trivial compared to heroic sacrifices of some. Basketball is about connection and sharing.