How blogs start - at least this one

Every now and then I go on a knowledge binge. I get a little bored with the routine of things and I seek out new perspectives. Eventually this leads to several me digesting audio books, paper books, "Jerry McGuire Moments," journaling, note taking, jogs through the forest; existential musings, all in a very short period of time. Some things stick and other things which occur to me pass right on by.

About a week ago I began one of these binges. It was actually this one week ago today (mid to late August, 2009). It occurred to me that I spend a great deal of time on the phone with people conducting narrative discussions. Basically, I call strangers on the telephone and in so many words try to get them to listen to me for a few minutes and do one of two things: either involve themselves in a career-changing endeavor, or help me get in touch with someone they know who I will then call for the very same purpose. Those who aren't in sales or recruiting are probably turned off by the thought that someone would actually do this for a living. I on the other hand, see it as a challenge - one which would make one of my heroes, Aristotle, proud.

I undertook the challenge of finding a workable formula of narration that would, if done properly, produce results that I could predict and repeat, seeing as how I have been doing this for eleven years now - calling strangers on the phone. In the past I'd gotten forensic about it, a little bit. But I never really found a formula that was reliable. Until last week. I'm sorry to admit I simply won't reveal my discovery. But, I read a book and found a community of people who specialize in story-telling, for the sake of story-telling. They're more concerned with the process and sequence of the narrative than they are with the content. How unique, I thought. So, I read this book twice in one week. I wrote up diagrams of my typical discussions. The fact is, I'd been doing a lot of the things this method prescribes already. I just didn't know it. I'd liken it to regularly finding and collecting orange-colored rocks and thinking, maybe someone will want to buy these for some reason. Well, I figured out that these orange rocks are actually a substance called, gold - figuratively speaking. Last week, I put my new discovery in to action. So far, so good. People are actually showing a positive response on the phone - far more positive than in the past. I'm endeavoring to make this formula unconscious. My goal is to become effective enough that when necessary, I can draw on any number of ways to convey details in a creative, informative, and entertaining manner. Wish me luck!