Mark Matteson: Zingerman’s & Stories are Forever

How is it that people, say like Mark Matteson, seem to be brimming with stories? Mark is a published author and writes a monthly newsletter called E-zine Street. Stories pour out of Mark because he has a finely tuned personal radar system – he listens for them. For instance, as he recently rode across the U.S. on an airplane, this story leapt out at him. Mark takes in the story, runs it through his own filter and then writes about it to help others.

But Davo, dude, I’m a technician man, I’m not a writer or a consultant.

Fair enough. Instead of writing about the stories that you hear to help others, use the stories to help yourself. You probably won’t hear as many stories pertaining to exactly what you do for a living as you will hear other types of stories. This is where you need to dial in your own personal radar. To begin with, be open to stories you hear from your son’s kindergarten teacher to your boss to Joan the bartender. Then, as the story works its way into your skull, allow yourself to think about your own life. What is relevant? What reminds you of something else? Who reminds you of someone else? How would you do that in your job? How could you learn to do that? How does that pertain to something you do for a living? The questions that you can ask are endless and the more you ask, the more will surface.

You see, stories that are not specifically about you, can be like running a reverse or mis-direction play in football. The flow is going one way and then BAM! it goes in the opposite direction. Suddenly there is daylight, less tacklers, less noise. Suddenly you are able to think with more freedom. Suddenly a very relevant thought appears from where there was none. Lessons learned from these types of stories have a tendency to dig their heels into your brain’s turf and will not easily slip away.

For more conventional stories that will entertain and teach you, drop by Mark’s bookstore.