A521.1.4.RB – Your Favorite Storytelling Leader

            According to Denning (2011), storytelling is an art of performance wherein the performance the storyteller, story, and the audience interacts in a meaningful ensemble.  The story that stood out for me that was delivered by one of the best leaders I consider was Steve Jobs’ commencement speech for the 114 graduating students of 2015 at Stanford University.  Jobs used a form of convincing communication.  When performing a convincing communication, the storyteller works with a collection of complex variables namely emotion, mood, and meaning (Denning, 2011).

            Jobs began his speech with “Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That’s it. No big deal. Just three stories.”  Jobs first story was about connecting the dots.  Jobs biological parents who were uneducated decided to give-up Jobs for adoption on a strict condition that the adopted parents are college educated.  The first adoption fell apart since the adopted parents chose to adopt a girl.  The second adopted parents although not college educated kept their word to send Steve to college even if it caused all of their savings.  Steve decided that it was not worth using his adopted parent's savings for college that he was not happy taking anyway.

            When Steve dropped from college, he decided to enroll in Reed College where he can choose the courses he wanted to take.  He took calligraphy course where he learned typography, and ten years later, he discovered that if typography was an excellent learning tool in designing his first Mac computer where fonts were proportionately spaced.  Jobs told that one could not connect the dots looking forward, but we can connect the dots only by looking backward.  He further stated that we must trust that those dots would somehow connect in our future.  According to Steve Jobs, we have to follow our hearts regardless if it would lead us to a rough path.  

            Steve’s second story was regarding love and loss.  At the age of 30, he was fired from the company that he founded due to the poor decisions he made.  But with the loss of his company and job, Steve was able to turn the negative into a positive outcome.  He loved what he did, and decided to create neXT and Pixar where along the way, he had met his beautiful wife and Apple acquiring neXT hired Jobs back.  Jobs reiterated that we have to love what we do and to those who are still looking that “thing” that they love never to give up and keep on looking until they find it.  His advice was we should never settle until we find what we truly love to do.

            The third and last of Jobs’ story was about death.  Jobs shared that when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was given three to six months to live by his physicians, he was told to go home and get his affairs in order.  Although in the long run Jobs was healed from pancreatic cancer through surgery, he considered the thought of death was the best invention of life where old make way to the new.  He advised us, his audience to not waste time by living someone else’s life.  We need to listen to our inner voice and have the courage to follow our heart.  Jobs ended his commencement speech with “Stay hungry. Stay foolish.” Two actions that I wish I have done so too when I was younger.

            Steve Jobs’ Stanford University commencement speech was very inspiring, emotional, and simple and the purpose of his story was clearly stated.  Jobs effectively communicated his vision to continue to love what he does and not be afraid to take a leap of faith, and trust that the decisions he makes will eventually result positively.  Steve Jobs vision resonated with all 114 Stanford graduating students as well as to everyone present.  For me what resonated most was when Jobs said, “Do what you love.  And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it.”

            Listening to Jobs’ commencement speech where he connected and aligned the three stories reminded me of what Adichie’s (2009) Ted speech about the danger of a single story.  According to Adichie (2009) with a single story, it would result in stereotypes.  Adichie further reiterated that the problem of stereotypes is not because they are not true but that stereotype stories leave us hanging because those stories are incomplete.  I do understand and connect with both Jobs and Adichie.

            Looking back now, getting separated from the father of my children was a blessing in disguise.  I was hurt and disappointed at that time, but now I know that things do happen for a reason.  If the separation had not occurred, I would not have decided and took courage to work in Tokyo, Japan where I have met my wonderful, sweet and loving husband.  I also used to think that America is a dangerous country which if I analyze it now,  that was a stereotype thinking just as Adichie stated.  My felt sense from Jobs commencement speech was not to settle for less and not give up on my search for what it is that I genuinely love doing personally and professionally.  It is never too late! 

References

Adichie, C. N. (2009). The danger of a single story [Video File]. Retrieved from:https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story/transcript?referrer=playlist-how_to_tell_a_story#t-92743Denning, S. (2011). The leader’s guide to storytelling: Mastering the art and discipline of            business narrative (Revised and updated edition). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley &            Sons/Jossey-Bass.Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address [Video File]. Retrieved from:            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF8uR6Z6KLcWhalen, J.D. (2007). The professional communications toolkit. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage            Publications