Jeremy Donovan's study of TED talks suggests your stories will be better if you have some element of "the hero's journey" in them (as discovered by writer Joseph Campbell):
- Ordinary world - state of the world before your adventure begins
- Call to Adventure - time you feel a need to do something or say something risky
- Refusal of the call - your resisting this urge to do or say risky things
- Meeting with the Mentor - the person who teaches you
- Crossing the first threshold - making the movement to do or say something risky
- Tests, allies, and enemies - those that help or hurt you on your adventure
- Approach to the inmost cave - inner examination
- Ordeal - the time of testing your actions or beliefs
- Reward - the positive result
- The road back - how you begin to recover/improve yourself
- Resurrection - you are recovered/improved
- Return with the elixir - technique you have learned from your experience which will help/benefit others
Tim Wilson
Professional Speech Coach
Free speaking tips at: http://speakingquicktips.blogspot.com
