Thursday, December 14, 2023

Six Words : Can You Do It?

All opinions expressed within are my own.

Legend has it that Ernest Hemingway penned the ultimate six-word story, "For Sale: baby shoes, never worn." Everyone writes a narrative, what's yours?

NPR gave celebs a chance.

"It All Changed in an Instant is full of well-known names — from activist Gloria Steinem ("Life is one big editorial meeting"), to author Frank McCourt ("The miserable childhood leads to royalties"), to actress Molly Ringwald ("Acting is not all I am").

The Heath Brothers in Made to Stick, developed a powerful story acronym SUCCESs - "Simple, unexpected, concrete, credible, emotional, story."

About basketball, we joked, "Making little girls cry every day." That meant, it bordered on a crusade, keeping the Middlesex League trophy local. 

In 1967, new Red Sox manager Dick Williams quipped, "We'll win more than we lose," en route to an unimagined American League pennant. 

Length doesn't assert quality. Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet, "Brevity is the soul of wit." Lincoln apologized for a lengthy letter, saying that he lacked the time to make it shorter. 

Your story might simply list your skills, "Serve, dig, spike, block, pass, set."

Maybe you impose demands on each other. "Champions do extra. Who are we?"

Bill Belichick delivers a simple message each season, "What happened last year doesn't matter.

Brad Stevens says of coaching, "We get more than we give.

Sonny Lane told us many times, "I'm pleased but I'm not satisfied.

"You're either improving or falling behind."

What's in your six word story? 

"Tell your story; share something great.

"Repeating lies doesn't make them true.

"What are you prepared to sacrifice?

"Relying on your title defines weakness.

Lagniappe. Saving lives. 

No comments: