Tell Me a Story

All it takes is three sentences.

A good story needs only three parts; a beginning, middle and end. It’s a classic three-act structure that is used in book, films and other meda. While it sounds simple, it can be difficult to relay a story effectively and concisely. Part of the challenge is the limited time, patience and attention span of our listeners.

There’s a helpful model I use often to make storytelling easier. It’s called the PAR method:

• P is for Problem. Tell what problem you set out to solve.

• A is for Action. Describe the action(s) you took to solve the problem.

• R is for Result. Talk about the results — the outcome of the actions, and how it helped others.

Using the PAR method and practicing will help you tell compelling stories that communicate your value in as little as three sentences. And if you need help writing your PAR story and practicing it, well, that’s what I’m here for.