Who does not like a good story? Children like stories, adults like stories, everyone likes to listen to a good story. This week I had lunch with someone I met four years ago. The plan was to have lunch, all those many years ago. Somehow, we never got around to it. Always trust timing.
Our calendars aligned, and we agreed to meet at Ruby Jeans. For those of you not from Kansas City, Missouri. Ruby Jean’s is owned by Chris Goode, a Kansas City entrepreneur who was introduced to the world of juicing in a documentary Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead by no means is this a story on juicing.
However, the location is just as important. Ruby Jeans Juicer strives to create truly healthy beverages and snacks in an environment, which is welcoming and all-inclusive to their customers. The stories told during the one hour and 15 minutes were nothing short of amazing. Nothing goes better with a story than a good meal. Being new to Ruby Jean’s, I ordered the salmon sliders; an avocado spread with perfectly ripe avocados, a smooth creamy texture spread across two rice cakes, the salmon was seasoned to perfection, topped with egg shavings, crushed red pepper, and all five of my senses were pleased.
Unpacking our stories while sharing a meal reminded me why families benefit from the dinner hour. Sharing a meal is a great occasion for free-flowing conversation, and in hectic times, perhaps the only formal opportunity to do so every day. No wonder the adage, the family who eats together stays together. Such dining wisdom builds great relationships.
Our brains process information in a narrative form, and it was through our stories we connected, with each others. The stories we shared will help us remember what was shared and how it controlled the flow of information, and because it was crafted well, the stories entered our emotions, and will affect out decision-making in days to come.
One thing that is important for those who do not consider themselves storytellers. Everyone can be a storyteller, and everyone has good stories to tell. As people, we tell stories all the time.
Why Storytelling?
- Storytelling has the power to connect. It provides the confidence to share your narrative. It is an essential human experience that unites people and drives stronger, deeper connections. Stories allow us to communicate, educate, and share. It is not just a good way to spend time. It gives you a totally different way to connect. Storytelling allows people to engage in a fragmented media world.
- Storytelling creates common experiences and unites people around ideas and offerings. Thus, stories provide a common base to share feelings about ideas and offerings, that will create a unifying platform for dialogue and for interactions to build enthusiasm. It allows people to envision themselves using and enjoying the offering or idea that your story conveys.
- Storytelling allows you to step outside your comfort zone in a positive, constructive way as it stretches you into new skills.
- Storytelling transmits knowledge and meaning, a powerful method for learning. We learn from observations, first-hand experiences, and by sharing those experiences through stories. Storytelling can be a powerful tool that enables people to understand what is going on in the the life of others and what that means to you. Stories represent situations we might face one day, and present solutions we might use. A story can tell how a product or idea will work, how it will deliver a benefit, and what experience it will provide.
- Storytelling motivates people. People are more likely to act in response to an emotional message conveyed through a story than when just presented with facts. Storytelling allows people to connect with each other in an authentic, honest, and vulnerable way.
When you want to motivate, persuade, or be remembered, start with a story of human struggle and eventual triumph. It will capture people’s hearts – by first attracting their brains. Don’t forget to do it over a good meal.
#storytellers #writers #rubyjeans #goodmeal #dinnertime #connect
