What If You Change Your Focus?

“The key to storytelling is to focus on the audience.”

Garr Reynolds is something of a presentation guru, but when I read his words I thought, “Well, duh! Everyone knows THAT.”

I wonder, though. Does everyone understand the essential, deeper truth beneath Garr’s storytelling advice? It’s a principle that applies to everything we do.

Life is about what I give, not what I get. Contribution and generosity matter more what’s received in return.

It’s not about me.

After many years as a teacher I learned I couldn’t really “teach” anything to my students. I could, however, design interesting, creative opportunities for them to learn worthwhile material. My job became one of giver and observer. My main question as teacher was “Did this work for the students?”

When I talk to a group I don’t ask what I want to say. Instead, I ask what will give them opportunities to reflect, to dream, to confront adversity with courage and to encourage those around them. I tell my story only to the extent that it provides those opportunities.

Success, for me, means I more-or-less disappear.

Students get engaged in learning and working together and I get to watch, answer questions, and figure out how to make it a bit better next time.

Listeners get inspired to take a step toward writing a remarkable story in their own lives. The spotlight’s reflected into the audience, where it belongs.

And perhaps someone takes that final step past the resistance and commits to riding a bike 500 miles.

I want to stop asking “What can I get?” I want more answers to “What can I give?”

You?

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