Just Shut Up!

Credit: Jean Hull

For as long as I can remember I’ve enjoyed telling stories. I was a teenager when a family member said, “you’re really good at it. I can see what you describe like I was there with you. You’re funny too. You should write some of your stuff down.”

Years later I was in journalism school. One of my teachers said, “Bill, think of a paragraph like a photograph. Describe what you see in no less than three sentences and no more than four. Then go to the next photograph (paragraph) in the story. Make sure the reader can see what you’re describing.”

I liked that description. I decided to write like I talk and avoid getting fancy. I want people to hear my voice in anything I write. That goes for email, blogs, text messages, business letters and articles. Stories are my main thing. I like telling stories.

Years ago, I was at a family function on Amelia Island. Our group had rented multiple condos next door to each other. We were on a golf course with a great stream running behind the units.

One evening the adults were in one unit and the kids were in another. The young teenagers were sitting with the younger kids while us “grownups” were doing something else. Got the picture?

I was sharing a story. I had made quite the stir in a public restroom a few weeks earlier. I told a family member, and she fell over laughing. I was “pressured” into sharing it with the group.

So, I’m mid story. The group is hanging on every word. I’ve got everyone in the palm of my hand. Never have my delivery and timing been so perfectly in sync.

My young cousin barges in and shouts, “mom, dad.” He’s told to show some manners and let Bill Finish. He knows better than to interrupt. He tries to protest but his parents stand firm. He obeys.

I finish my story. Everyone’s laughing. My story telling prowess is, once again, affirmed.

Someone turns to my cousin and asks, “now, what was it you wanted to tell us?” He responds, “there’s a big snake in our condo. Everybody’s trapped. I was the only one that could get out.”

We fly next door. Sure enough, the kids are on the kitchen counters, the washing machine, dryer, dining table and sofa. They’ve been hanging on for dear life while my cousin waited for me to finish my tale.

Sales Application? We’ve heard the phrases before. “Shut up and sell. You have two ears and one mouth for a reason.” And my favorite, “Don’t tell me what you’ve got. Listen to what I need.” We have to read the room and know when to put our story in our pocket.

I’ve shared this before. Once a lady was resisting a new service that was exactly what she needed. I had worn out the dictionary giving her reasons to buy.

Finally, I stopped. She sat silent for a minute and said, “so all it really does is,” she rattled off everything I had shared. When she finished, I said, “that’s right. Other than that it does nothing.” She laughed and signed our contract. I shut up and she sold herself.

Back to Amelia Island. We found the snake. He was hiding behind the dryer. He was captured and relocated to a more suitable space outside.

My story telling reputation earned yet another family chuckle. Ever so often one of the “kids” (they’re all grown now) will ask, “remember when we were stuck with the snake because Bill was telling one of his tales?”

The preceding content was provided by a contributor unaffiliated with Printing Impressions. The views expressed within may not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of the staff of Printing Impressions.