1. Stories: Gary Klein’s insights
Power of Stories
Researcher Gary Klein: stories are told & retold because they contain wisdom & are effective teaching tools
Main question to answer:
How do you get people to act on your idea?

2. Stories Role of Stories
Put knowledge in to a framework that is more lifelike, more true to day-to-day existence
Power is twofold:
Simulation: knowledge about how to act
Inspiration: motivation to act
(Both are geared toward generating action)

3. Stories Simulation Why mental simulation works?
We can’t imagine events or sequences with evoking same modules of the brain that are evoked in real physical activity
Examples
People who imagine words that start with “B” or “P” can’t resist subtle lip movements
People who imagine Eiffel Tower can’t resist moving their eyes upward
When people drink water but imagine it’s lemon juice, the salivate more and vice versa

4. Stories: Connection Plot
Stories that Inspire
The Tale of Jared
The Art of Spotting
Have to consciously look for the right one
What made these inspirations stick?
3 Basic Plots
The Challenge Plot
The Connection Plot
The Creativity Plot

5. Stories The Challenge Plot
The key element is that the obstacles seem daunting to the protagonist
They inspire us to act
Inspiring even when they’re much less dramatic and historical than these examples
Example stories: David and Goliath, Jared from Subway, The Alamo, The American Revolution

6. Stories: The Connection Plot
Is about people who develop a relationship that bridges a gap- racial, class, ethnic, religious, demographic,
Inspire in social ways
Make us want to help others, tolerant of others, work with others, and love others
Example stories: Parable of the Good Samaritan

7. Stories The Creative Plot Involves making a mental breakthrough
Solving long standing puzzle or attacking problem in a innovative way
Make us want to do something different – experiment with new approaches
The MacGyver Plot

8. Stories Importance of Plots
To target a specific audience
Telling stories focus people on potential solutions
Stories with visible goals and barriers shifts the audience into a problem solving mode
Almost always defeat the Curse of Knowledge
Almost always concrete
Most have emotional and unexpected elements
Hardest part is making sure they are simple and reflect you core message