The other day, a friend posted this quote from Maya Angelou on his Facebook page: “If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.”

What does it mean to be amazing? And to whom? Your story plays the key role in making you extraordinary. The main challenge that everyone faces is deciding, “Who should I matter to?”

This summer, I rode in a hot air balloon for the first time. My friend, Jon, prepaid two tickets for the ride last year. Due to high winds and other weather conditions, the flight was rescheduled several times. Finally on August 20, 2012 at 2:30 pm, Jon received a solid confirmation that the sunset ride was a go. We left Chicago at 3:30 pm and drove to a small airport in Joliet, IL. We were the first to arrive at 5:00pm. Fifteen minutes later, the flight crew showed up in a white twelve-foot van with all the equipment in tow. I immediately recognized the “giant picnic basket” which I assumed would be carrying passengers. It’s technically called the gondola. Ours had three burners at the top that reminded me of flame throwers.

Jon volunteered to hold the ropes that held the balloon envelope open while large fans blew air in to inflate it. This took more than twenty minutes. Meanwhile, other passengers had arrived. When more than half the balloon was inflated, our captain, Bill,  turned on the fuel tanks and ignited the burners. Three bursts of flames got the envelope fully inflated and raised. We were ready for lift off.

“All aboard!” Everyone climbed in — ten passengers and Bill. He ignited the burners a few more times as we gently floated higher. We all learned to look away from the burners as they gave the backs of our necks a good dry sauna treatment.

The balloon was not designed to be propelled so we had to rely on an occasional gentle wind for direction. It was a tranquil ride with a view of Joliet and neighboring Shorewood below that looked like a Monopoly board game filled with cookie-cutter homes. The Chicago skyline was hazy in the distance. The air around us was still and the sounds below that were audible came from cars speeding, children playing and dogs barking.

After floating for forty-five minutes at 2,000 ft., Bill found a good spot to land — an empty lot next to a CVS.

As the balloon descended, the voices of kids got louder.  1,000 ft.

We looked down to find that there were several in the parks and playgrounds who had spotted us and were waving. Some of them started running in our direction. 500 ft.

The adults got in on the action chasing after the kids. Others who were driving stopped in the middle of the street and got out of their cars. 200 ft.

“Bend your knees once we hit ground,” Bill coached us for the landing. 100 ft.

Thud! The basket rocked a bit at touchdown, but it was a safe landing overall. Here’s where it gets even more interesting.

People came from all directions with their cameras and smartphones. Sirens were blaring from two police cars and two fire engines that arrived at the scene. One of the cops approached us and asked, “Who’s in-charge?”

We soon learned that people had called 911 to report a balloon crashing in the vicinity. While I admired their vigilance, I was fascinated by what was going on in their minds when they saw our balloon. They’ve seen airplanes heading for a landing at Midway Airport every day. But they assume differently when they see a balloon?

People always make assumptions about what they see. They complete the story in their minds and believe it to be the truth. How are you perceived? Are you just another normal airplane? Or are you an amazingly colorful balloon that’s a whole new experience and stops people in their tracks? If you are that strange balloon coming down from the sky, do you propel yourself to where children are excited to welcome you or do you rely on the wind that could take you to skeptical and nervous adults?

After talking for almost a half hour, the sheriff and Bill shook hands and spectators were leaving the scene one by one. The airport crew arrived soon after to wrap things up. After they packed the balloon and basket back in the trailer, all passengers got in the van and we drove back to the airport. Bill thanked us with a Champagne toast.

“Cheers!” It was an amazing way to end what turned out to be not a normal day.

After getting back in mid-July from vacationing in the Philippines, I dove right back into my storytelling agenda. My first assignment was to facilitate the board retreat of an international organization with a mission to engage civic-minded citizens to be positive agents of change in their local communities through leadership and service. The objectives for the retreat were to strengthen relationships between board members and to develop a cohesive message to other members of the organization for achieving specific goals.

Each participant shared stories about personal experiences as a volunteer that were transformational. Their stories revealed common beliefs in how their mission can change the lives of people they serve after seeing how it has changed their own lives.

I enjoyed listening to their stories as I got to know each of them on a more personal level — their aspirations, challenges and values. They tugged at my heart strings and, in some cases, I burst out laughing. Either way, I was moved to the very core. I couldn’t remember the last time I was in a room filled with so much empathy, compassion and camaraderie.

With clarity and a fresh perspective on their shared values, the board members showed confidence in mapping out next steps as I exited the room. On my way out the building I thought, “Beyond a meeting of the minds, people can solve social problems if they open themselves fully and share their hearts.”

A learning nugget from the board meeting:

Everyone agreed that building a story bank was an important first step to enhance storytelling within the organization. Here’s the link I shared to get them started. It’s one example of how Families USA collects stories and uses them. Let me know if this proves to be useful to you or if you already have a story bank. Would love to hear from you.

Please join us for our fall storytelling workshop series:

September 20
Commercial-ize Your Mission – DETAILS AND REGISTER

October 11
Don’t Let Words Get in the Way – DETAILS AND REGISTER

October 18
The Power of Symbols – DETAILS AND REGISTER

November 13
Writing for Video – DETAILS COMING SOON

For more information about the workshops, visit the workshop series page.

Looking forward to seeing you in the fall.

I took an extended summer break and recently returned from a long vacation in the Philippines where my family and friends celebrated my aunt getting married for the first time. She’s 62.

Annie was living in France in the 1970’s when she met Thomas. Their romance lasted for more than a year until Thomas popped the question. It would have been a sure thing except he wanted to have children, but she didn’t. They found no compromise to stay together so they parted ways. Thomas moved to Switzerland and started a family. Annie stayed in Paris for another twenty years before returning to Manila to be with her aging parents. She decided to stay for good.

In March 2011, Thomas booked a flight to the Philippines after his friend and colleague asked for his help in setting up a new business venture in Asia. At the time, Thomas was retired and had been divorced for ten years. A few days after arriving in Manila, Thomas started a search to be reunited with Annie. The phone book turned up several Annies, but not his. He tried his personal connections and found Nora who used to do business with my aunt. When Thomas called the number that Nora gave him, a familiar voice answered. Since then, Thomas never let go. Every day was a proposal; every moment a serenade. He canceled his departure for Switzerland and vowed to woo her until she said yes. After four more months, Annie finally made Thomas the happiest man on earth. If you know Filipinos, you probably already guessed that the turn of events was not without influence from Annie’s family. But that was only because they realized that Thomas and Annie were meant to be. Only by being together can their real story begin.

Our lives reflect either the truth about us and our values, or the expectations of others. Are we exhibiting our own choices, or that which others impose on us? Real stories come from real relationships. It doesn’t have to be a marriage made in heaven; there only has to be honesty.

What is your real story? Do your donors, volunteers, board members and staff share your organization’s values and vision? Are they also telling your real story? Will you enter into a relationship for the short-term gain? Or do you purposefully seek true partners whose contributions will sustain for the long haul?

Annie and Thomas taught me that living happily ever after is not the point. Rather, it’s believing that together you will.

Let’s be together this fall for more learning through storytelling…

Our new workshop series begins September 20 with our popular writing workshop Commercial-ize Your Mission. We’re hosting two workshops in October – Don’t Let Words Get in the Way on the 11th and The Power of Symbols on the 18th – both focusing on other tools of storytelling beyond the conventional use of words. Finally, save the date for our newest workshop – Writing for Video – on November 13. Details coming soon.

Registration begins next week Tuesday, August 28 – stay tuned for more details. Meanwhile, enjoy the rest of summer.

A friend recently shared with me this quote from Judy Collins — acclaimed musician, author and artist:

‎The creative act is one of great boldness where you act on your own beliefs.
Creativity is the ability to risk being different from the crowd,
to think differently, to act differently, and yet in a calculated, orderly fashion 
so that your idea, your vision, your new insight, is clear.
It is the successful effort to make completeness out of chaos,
to make the world dance, for a moment or forever,
to your drum, at your pace, to your dream.

Great storytelling creates a whole new world in a person’s mind. It is Creativity stirring the senses and the imagination of the reader/listener/viewer. Boldness comes from making specific choices for how you tell your story — whose voice, whose eyes, what obstacles, which characters, how they struggle and how they will triumph — to serve a clear and relevant message. But your most important decision is: “To whom am I telling my story?” Everything else, all your other choices fall in line.

Discovered this short film about Caine Monroy, a 9-year old boy who created an arcade made entirely out of cardboard inside his dad’s used auto parts store.

Caine is a hero. To him who creates. To her who shares her passion. To someone who has a message. But is ignored.

Caine is a teacher. I learned three things.

ONE

There is wisdom in going back to the basics. You can go to an arcade with high-tech games plus all the bells and whistles. Or you can play in Caine’s cardboard arcade. You decide which captures the true meaning of play.

TWO

Don’t underestimate the power of one believer. It only takes one domino, the right domino, to make all the other pieces fall.

THREE

Always keep it simple and easy. People come to Caine’s arcade knowing who built it and why he waits everyday for someone to play. Everyone gets it.

WE CAME TO PLAY!

Join the fun and creativity tomorrow —

Our workshop series kicks off on April 18 with Your Story Can Make You Extraordinary: A Writing Workshop hosted by the Rogers Park Business Alliance.

Imagine your organization has a spot for a tv commercial during the Super Bowl. What do you say to a captive audience of millions — in 30 seconds? This workshop challenges the conventional use of words. Stripping down your message into the bare essentials can be the key to revealing the most valuable aspects of your organization.

Space is limited to 12 participants.

Click here for more information and to register.

See you tomorrow!