In a recent article over at copyblogger.com by Sean D’Souza he takes us through the three critical components of great stories by telling drawing a parallel to a Disney classic.  In my rendition I’ll convert his story of Cinderalla to the Lion King…because that is my favorite, and this is my post.

1.  The Sequence:

We’ve got Simba who’s the heir of to the throne at Pride Rock that runs into trouble when he faces his Uncle Scar’s quest to make the throne his own.  Simba is manipulated by Scar into thinking he is responsible for the tragic death of his Father and King, Mufasa.

There’s a sequence of events that are critical to building the drama needed in a good story.

2. The Suspense:

Simba runs away to avoid facing his Father’s untimely death.  He learns a new way of life and makes some entertaining friends along the way.  Meanwhile things take a turn for the worse when Scar unleashes his accomplices – the hyena’s on the fertile grounds surrounding Pride Rock.

Will Simba ever head back to face his past?  Who is this Nala character and why do I like her so much?  Does Simba get the girl?  All suspense.

3.  The roller coaster:

Highs and lows allow you to show the contrast and let the audience dig into the fact that this story really is worthwhile.  It keeps them on the edge of their seats waiting for the resolution.

So why is this kind of story telling critical?  Two reasons:

1. Most writers are unable to capture the elements of the story.

According to D’Souza, “Even if they get the sequence right, they rarely build in the suspense or the roller coaster.  That’s because they aren’t aware of these elements, or just don’t know how to go about it.”

2.  Most articles are almost always how-to or reporter like.

Stories are just more interesting and will naturally pique the reader’s interest more than reports.

The classic stories, Disney or otherwise, constantly bring people back time and time again when they already know the ending.  Now you know why.  With a little bit of practice you can implement this three step approach.  Or at a minimum give some thought to why you love your favorite Disney cartoon so much.

Well maybe not Hell if you take the advice of Nicole Fallon of Business New Daily and recognize that the greatest business plans likely don’t stand a chance without an equally strong elevator pitch. So how do you go about knocking one of those impassioned two-minute diatribes out of the park? Below is a sampling from Nicole’s article, “10 Tips for a Winning Elevator Pitch” from this past February.

1. Start Strong: “Eighty percent of your success will depend your opening line. It must snag your listener’s interest and make them want to know more. Do this right, and your prospects will follow you, wanting more.” – Bert Martinez , Bert Martinez Communications

2. Prioritize: “While creating interest and value is key, remember to be authentic and realistic. Making outlandish claims about your company will eventually be discovered, and your integrity will be diminished.” – Ed Cederquist, CEO and co-founder of Bistro MD

3. Keep it conversational: “You want to stand out and generate excitement. Don’t regurgitate a memorized pitch that sounds like a pharmaceutical ad. When I hear a pitch, I don’t necessarily want to feel like I am being pitched. I would rather have it be more conversational. Start with the problem you are trying to solve, the way the current alternatives are lacking; then, briefly describe your solution.”  – John Torrens, assistant professor of entrepreneurial practice at Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management

4. Think about your end goal: “You should build your exit strategy along with your business plan. Investors want to know that you’ve evaluated the risk and thought your plan through from soup to nuts” – Summer Kramer, founder of SummerSkin

5. Make a connection: “An elevator speech is an important networking tool. It should serve as a verbal business card that provides a brief, compelling introduction to one’s company and intrigues new acquaintances to seek more information. At your earliest opportunity [after giving your pitch], express an interest in your new acquaintance and learn as much as you can about him or her. The information you gain will provide insight as you proceed with efforts to build a genuine, mutually beneficial relationship.” – Juana Hart, founder of J-Hart Communications