How do you tell a story without rambling?
Use S.A.L. - Setback, Action, Learning. Three beats keep the story tight and give it a point.
What I say in the video
Ever get lost telling a story and lose your audience? Try this: S.A.L. Setback, Action, Learning.
Quick example:
Setback: I'm 18 years old. I blank out singing on stage in a punk band.
Action: I make up words on the spot, convinced it's a disaster.
Learning: The crowd loved it, and it taught me that you never know what people actually think. How you respond is what people remember.
Keep S.A.L. in mind. Setback, Action, Learning, and you'll never get lost in your own story again.
What I didn’t say in the video
Rambling stories often happen because the teller gets lost in too many details that don't add up to a clear point. S.A.L. helps you gain needed structure to assure your story has the beginning, middle and end we're all naturally geared towards.Try it today
Take a story you tell often and write it as three lines: setback, action, learning. From there, you can fill in the details that are relevant.Bill Smartt is a New York executive presence and public speaking coach and the founder of Smartt Talk. He works with leaders in financial services, tech, advertising and startups.
