Story science is a powerful way to accelerate your business or your career.
Angus Fletcher at the Ohio State University's Project Narrative and I have teamed up to apply his groundbreaking work on story science to the realm of business.
Today, I'm going to show you one formula derived from the research: three lines to reshape your trajectory.
Let's turn to Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Act I, Scene 3 to demonstrate the power of story for a career.
Angus Fletcher at the Ohio State University's Project Narrative and I have teamed up to apply his groundbreaking work on story science to the realm of business.
Today, I'm going to show you one formula derived from the research: three lines to reshape your trajectory.
Let's turn to Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Act I, Scene 3 to demonstrate the power of story for a career.
First witch: All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis!
Second witch: All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!
Third witch: All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!
This three-part story launches Macbeth on his entrepreneurial journey to seize the Scottish throne, making him a political innovator. It accelerates Macbeth’s thought—and ours too—to see the future.
And it does so through a simple story formula that will work for you:
And it does so through a simple story formula that will work for you:
1. Start with a story that describes the now. When Shakespeare's play begins, Macbeth is thane* of Glamis. Write a description of your current situation.
2. Extend that story to predict the near future. The 2nd witch prophesies that Macbeth will soon have a more prestigious role, thane of Cawdor. What's the next move for you on the chessboard of your career?
3. Extend the story again to predict the far future. The 3rd witch foresees that ultimately Macbeth will be king of Scotland.** Imagine where you would like to end up in terms of your career.
Take a few minutes and create the plot for your career. Like any playwright, you can adapt or edit the story later on. But you need to start somewhere.
Angus' newest book, Wonderworks: the 25 most powerful inventions in the history of literature launches tomorrow. Pre-order it here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Wonderworks/Angus-Fletcher/9781982135973
* A thane in Scotland was a noble.
**One important caution: The witches' prophecies turn into a temptation that leads to murder. It's important to craft your story to fit your own values!
Take a few minutes and create the plot for your career. Like any playwright, you can adapt or edit the story later on. But you need to start somewhere.
Angus' newest book, Wonderworks: the 25 most powerful inventions in the history of literature launches tomorrow. Pre-order it here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Wonderworks/Angus-Fletcher/9781982135973
* A thane in Scotland was a noble.
**One important caution: The witches' prophecies turn into a temptation that leads to murder. It's important to craft your story to fit your own values!