So the other night my friend Kim and I went to a party.

There was this guy there, and he started talking to us.

We were actually in the middle of a fun conversation when he came over and started talking about the weather.

(Wow, nothing beats a great conversation about the weather.)

So there we are having a stimulating weather conversation.  He told us about some of the highlights of being on an airplane on the tarmac when it was March 21st, the first day of spring, in New York City, and he had to get de-iced.

I looked at Kim and she looked at me—we both were wondering where the de-icing story came from.

We were talking about airline miles. Then all of a sudden we were talking about weather. Then we went into a story about de-icing on a plane.

And then he whipped out his credit card and showed it to us.  Out of nowhere.  And then we heard a credit card story.

Everything was so random!

Then it dawned on us: he tells stories like kids do! Have you ever listened to a story  from a child where there’s no beginning, no middle, and no end?

You’ll be talking about something and a kid will interrupt and you’ll think, “Okay, let’s give the kid his time.” Then the kid tells a story and it starts out like this:

There was once this thing, you know this thing that was on the tarmac, and, and, and, there was a movie that was being played, and, and, and they gave out popcorn.  Then all of a sudden everybody clapped their hands and jumped up and down and said, “Cheeseburgers!”

Have you ever heard a kid tell a story?  It makes no sense.  You have no clue.  You sit.  You look at them.  You shake your head. But you smile, it’s cute, they’re kids after all.

Well, we met the man who still tells stories like little kids.

No beginning.  No middle.  No end.  Very random in all ways, shapes, and forms.

You want to know why people run away from you at parties?  

It’s because you still tell stories like a three year old, or a seven year old, or an eleven year old.

Storytelling is the key to life.  



Hell, you’re reading this stupid blog right now because I’m telling a story.  I’m getting to a point.  You’re wondering where the punch line is or where the summation of the story is.

A story needs to be relevant to us, what’s going on in the present moment, not some random thought that you had in your brain. A story needs to have a beginning, middle, and an end.

The next time you’re at a party and people are staring at you and walking away from you, start thinking about the stories you’ve told. Are they on an adult level?

Don’t be like this guy who apparently was still stuck in the fourth grade.  Nice man,; sweet guy—but couldn’t get my attention.  When he was talking to me, all I wanted to do was go out and play recess, get on the see saw, have him sit on one end, go up and down, get him to feel real comfortable, then get off and watch him go flying off.

All because of his terrible stories.

Don’t let this happen to you—start learning how to be a good storyteller.

. . .

Have you ever met a horrible storyteller?

Let me know in the comments below.