Stories from Camp Obama
The power of Fifty Lessons is the power of stories. There is something about a story that takes an abstract concept, creates an emotional connection, and makes it relevant to our daily lives.
As you would expect, we are always on the lookout for examples of how leaders use stories to connect and inspire others.
We found a great example recently in a Huffington post article from 2007 about “Obama Camp”, the training programs used early on in the Obama campaign to prepare volunteers for get-out-the-vote efforts.
It turns out that the heart of the program was stories.
Many of the Camps were led by Harvard Professor Marshall Ganz. As told by citizen reporter Zack Exley, Marshall asked the audience,
"Where does your hope come from?"
One audience member gave him the answer that perfectly set up the rest of the weekend: "I get hope from stories. Obama’s story that he told at the [2004 Democratic National] convention–that gave me hope."
"Yes! ‘To inspire’–it literally means to breathe life into each other," Ganz replied, "And we can do that by telling our stories to each other. That’s what Barack did for us when he told his story. And that’s what we can do for others when we tell them our stories."
The next morning, Ganz followed up by playing a video of the first seven minutes of Obama’s famous 2004 speech, and then dissected those seven minutes into three parts. First came the "story of self," Obama’s challenges and choices. Second came the "story of us," when Obama pivoted to connect his own story with the challenges and choices that now face Americans as a people. Finally there was the "story of now," where Obama laid out what we have do to make the world a better place right now.
The purpose of this weekend training, Ganz explained, was not only to learn skills, form teams and get organized–but much more importantly, to learn how to tell our own stories, how to "put into words why you’re called, and why we’ve been called, to change the way the world works."
Those "stories of self" and "stories of us" were to be the most powerful tool for these campaigners–along with the ability to teach others how to tell their stories–back home recruiting and motivating volunteers and building relationships.
Obama was certainly effective in creating stories of self, stories of us, and stories of now about the country. What are your own stories of self as an employee or manager, your stories of “us” in your organization, and the stories of “now” for what needs to be done to have your organization be more rewarding and successful.
Never Give An Ultimatum
Video: Never Give An Ultimatum
Dame Anita Roddick
Founder
The Body Shop International
Summary:
Never give an ultimatum. Learn from Dame Anita Roddick why you should never force yourself into a corner by giving an ultimatum. As Dame Anita Roddick shares, it could backfire and put you in an extremely difficult situation. (Duration 2:11)
-
Go to 50Lessons.com
Visit our main site,
www.50Lessons.com.
-
50 Lessons Products
Prospering In Tough Times Collection, 
