The Story Factor: Inspiration, Influence, and Persuasion Through the Art of Storytelling

This book does what any book about applied storytelling should do: it describes how to apply storytelling without compromising storytelling's artistic heart.Annette offers the book as a way to achieve "inspiration, influence and persuasion." By the end of the book, the reader learns that the "secret" of influence is, in fact, what has drawn so many fans to the art of storytelling: stories persuade because they lead us to the common ground of mutual respect - not by giving one party a secret weapon with which to manipulate the other. In Annette's words:"Story doesn't grab power. Story creates power.... As a storyteller you borrow a story's power to connect people to what is important and to help them make sense of their world." (Page 29)."The Story Factor" is my favorite "storytelling in business" book. To be sure, I had the pleasure of writing the forward to it. I did so in part because Annette has been my student in storytelling as well as my mentor in my own work with businesses. But I would never write a forward to any book in which I did not believe as deeply as I believe in my own books. I receive no payment from sales of "The Story Factor."Here are some particular things I liked about "The Story Factor":1. The description of the "Six Stories You Need to Know How to Tell" is worth the price of the book. People want the answers to certain questions before they'll give you a chance to persuade them of anything. These six stories achieve some of your essential interpersonal goals right away, and lay the groundwork for you to achieve the others.2. In the chapter called "What Stories Do That Facts Can't," Annette shows how your stories can de-escalate conflict, side-step traps laid for you, avoid the "because I said so" kind of arguments, broaden a discussion by grounding it in a wider reality, etc.3. One of Annette's chapters takes up one of my least favorite questions: "How do I tell a good story?" Why do I dread being asked that question? Because it seems to pre-suppose that there is a recipe for telling stories that works in all situations. In her characteristic Aikido-like way, however, Annette directs her readers to follow solid, easy-to-use advice that doesn't lock them into a limited formula. She briefly and convincingly outlines nine key points to keep in mind - that will nearly guarantee good telling.4. Annette's tone hits that "sweet spot" between the hype of so many pop business books, on the one hand, and the dense, soggy prose that deadens so many academic-type books on communication, business strategies, etc., on the other. She speaks to her reader with conversational ease - but without "selling" or oversimplifying.5. Annette's book is filled with memorable, well-told stories. Some are brief enough to throw into a conversation; others could be the keystone of a speech. The story about the red and green shoes is now part of my permanent mental landscape, as are the burning piano and the silent door-to-door salesman. With few excepti

Although I read about three books a week (over 120 per year) it is only once a year on average that I find one against which to lodge the following complaint. This book throws my reading schedule completely off track. When you find one that is so well written and so full of useful information you tend to slow down your reading speed to make sure that you don't miss anything important. What should have been a couple of hours to read ended up taking over a week as I read one part, digested it, then went back to read another one.The text covers the most important story types to tell in order to exercise influence over others, gain credibility, etc. It also defines a story and how it can influence in ways that bare facts cannot, provides information on the psychology of how a story influences, and the important "dos and don'ts" of a storyteller. Annette Simmons provides multiple examples throughout the text so the reader understands how to apply the principles right away.If you are studying storytelling, how to inspire others, how to influence others, how to change corporate culture, or any other aspect of change on a personal or organizational level then your education will be lacking if it does not include the information in this book. "The Story Factor" receives the highest recommendation that I can give.

"The Story Factor" by Annette Simmons is the best book I have read in a very long time. In fact in this pioneering work she has shown her gift for genius(we all have it, just don't all get it out there)by marrying together two seemingly unlikely ideas, storytelling and managagement skills. By management I refer to anything in our lives, from business, to personal life, to dealing with our own internal demons. There are plenty of competing distraction out there for us to read, but this book must not be missed. The Story Factor is a perfect primer for anyone looking to learn more about storytelling as a valuable adjunct to other lifeskills.Ms. Simmons offers her readers a strong case for valuing our own lives as being filled with meaningful anecdotes we can mine, and use, in order to connect with a genuine purpose. As an example Ms. Simmons points out the need for people to challenge ideas that fly in the face of reality. To elucidate her point she tells of Dr.Gail Christopher of The Innovations In American Government Program who questioned the notion that we can "do more with less". In the canabalization of much of corporate(and public) America we are now finding that you more often get less.With a well-timed story we can often be the iconoclast without necessarily stinking up the place being loud and boisterous.I am a speech-language pathologist and small business owner. I am interested and very motivated in finding useful(to me, and my customers)ways to help people find purpose and fulfillment in their lives. Annette Simmons great little tome has helped me do just that. In fact I have become so much more successful since reading it that I must get back to work here. Buy it, read it, and prepare to change!