1. Arya Arya.pdx@gmail.com Notes by Rick Smith
How to Tell a Story
Arya
Notes by Rick Smith

2. Introduction
Studied to be in medical industry, then moved into product ownership
Then moved into software development
Work with up to 5000 people, need to tell a good story
Understand your audience

3. How to start Understand your audience, and what they care about
How do they measure success?
What is their frustration? What are their rules?
What are their emotional needs?
It’s your job to make them feel like the hero
Assignment
write down who your audience is why they care.
Feel their pain, emphathy
Are you trying to help them understand their market?
Use different tactics, what will they walk away with?

4. Define the Big Idea
Think of a single anchor/log line that can be used to promote product
Could be a vision for the product or snappy summary
A key takeaway or elevator pitch
Come up with 5-10 story drafts
This is the hook to grab your audience

5. What is the medium used
Think about the medium you want to use to convey the story
Examples – 1-2 minute video, a story board, an animation
It could be a shared experience

6. Example: IT planner Audience Establish best known methods
40 yr-olds – lord of the ring fans
IT Projects - limited resources
Establish best known methods
Helps with transparent planning processes enable ideal collaboration
Want audience to believe that
Why would they listen to me?
Culture in place to work things out without escalating to management
Is there one “ring” that rules them all?
Medium
Wiki, video, train-the-trainer

7. Example 2: Small biz Audience Trust people Medium Feedback
Boss who needs to take a vacation without worrying about the biz
Wants customers to be happy
Trust people
Surprise words
Medium
Cartoon staring a squirrel
Feedback
I want you all to be excited, write your story as you would speak
Strip away everything and make it a 2-minute personal story

8. Developing your Story
Develop the story – where you’ve been, where you are, and where you’re going
Imagine they are an 8-year old
Introduce the characters
use post-its and list all the points you want to make
Develop a blueprint, then discuss it in “a bar conversation” to get feedback
Think of themes
Before & after, chronologically, a single persona, just one product
What are we really trying to do, who will it impact, how will their lives change

9. Example 3: First Robotics
Herding cats – 8-yr olds to start a new robotics club
Engage with the audience, they want to learn more, but afraid to be labeled as a geek
Short attention span, may struggle socially, board in advanced physics
Get more youth involved in technology
Bridge the gaps
Solving for “X” is really a way to get them to think about solving for “Y”
Feedback
Different perspectives and audience to build your story on the fly
Marvel heros

10. Developing Stories
practice

11. Call to Action
Take 10 minutes and write down everything you want to say
Do another session – write down more
Start grouping the items
Make many
Do your blueprint
Practice
Keep a journal or notebook, draw your ideas
Structure everything around your big idea
Get feedback from your peers, audience
Be vulnerable