Stories that Move Mountains: Storytelling and Visual Design for Persuasive Presentations

Hope's Story

While writing the book we ran across the story of Hope, which has been reproduced in full here. Robyn, the author, had e-mailed this story to a large business executive audience. When we talked with Robyn we found it had received a lot of positive feedback. It draws on a universal experience of owning and caring for a pet, but manages to bring from that experience key lessons for the business leaders. This is a great example of the short true story that can add impact to a broader story about developing people. You could, of course, create a fictional story to drive home the same points.

A few months after losing my beloved dog, Moca, of 12 years, I began looking for another companion. A friend who worked with a shelter in Puerto Rico sent me some pictures, and I was immediately drawn to Hope, a year-old mixed breed recovering from an injury it was believed she incurred during her time spent abandoned on the streets.

When we met her, she took a few steps toward me and fell, and then never seemed to fully regain her footing. We thought it was due to her long trip, nervousness, and new surroundings, but she didn't improve when we got her home.

Watching her struggle to walk was heartbreaking, as she could take only a couple of steps and fall over. She couldn't even get herself upright from the hardwood floors, dragging herself around the house instead.

While Hope ...