The Story Factor (2nd Revised Edition)

It's a great read...filled with stories that just won't let you put the book down. Good job Annette Simmons!


Your Story Is Your Brand   August 9, 2002
 15 out of 16 found this review helpful

"The Story Factor" by Annette Simmons is the best book I have read in a very long time. In fact in this pioneering work she has shown her gift for genius(we all have it, just don't all get it out there)by marrying together two seemingly unlikely ideas, storytelling and managagement skills. By management I refer to anything in our lives, from business, to personal life, to dealing with our own internal demons. There are plenty of competing distraction out there for us to read, but this book must not be missed. The Story Factor is a perfect primer for anyone looking to learn more about storytelling as a valuable adjunct to other lifeskills.

Ms. Simmons offers her readers a strong case for valuing our own lives as being filled with meaningful anecdotes we can mine, and use, in order to connect with a genuine purpose. As an example Ms. Simmons points out the need for people to challenge ideas that fly in the face of reality. To elucidate her point she tells of Dr.Gail Christopher of The Innovations In American Government Program who questioned the notion that we can "do more with less". In the canabalization of much of corporate(and public) America we are now finding that you more often get less.
With a well-timed story we can often be the iconoclast without necessarily stinking up the place being loud and boisterous.
I am a speech-language pathologist and small business owner. I am interested and very motivated in finding useful(to me, and my customers)ways to help people find purpose and fulfillment in their lives. Annette Simmons great little tome has helped me do just that. In fact I have become so much more successful since reading it that I must get back to work here. Buy it, read it, and prepare to change!


Informative & Entertaining ... A Rare Combination   March 23, 2003
 15 out of 16 found this review helpful

Finally, a management book that isn't filled with trite one sentence solutions to complicated problems. The author points out that in order to succeed, in business or life, other people must trust you and your goals. The way to exert influence and gain this trust is through opening up lines of communications via stories.

Everyone has a story to tell. With books, plays and movies people find stories intriguing because they reveal truths and emotions that are universal. Tapping into this universal appeal is the key to influencing others.

I found this book, with it's plethora of stories and examples, an excellent how-to guide. Not only are the stories entertaining, but they are arranged in 6 categories which allows the reader to easily apply them to specific situations. An interesting by-product is that I now listen more intently to other's stories and file them away in my mind for future reference. I have not only become a better communicator, I have become a better listener.


The Sorry Factor   June 2, 2004
 15 out of 25 found this review helpful

I have a story to tell about rave reviews and a disappointing book. This book does not explain how to develop a story. It does not explain what makes a good story different from a bad one. It does not practice what it preaches. Filled with wish washy generalities it will be useful only to the most socially unaccomplished readers. There author constantly expounds the advantage of story over fact but hardly ever uses stories. The author devotes an entire chapter to psychology and does not even mention one (!) psychological theory. The author devotes several chapters to how to build a story and focuses on body language instead. If you wish to learn something about body language while telling a story, then perhaps this book is for you. Otherwise, save yourself the frustration.


20 Pages worth of writing in a 272 page book   April 22, 2005
 14 out of 21 found this review helpful

This books rambles without a clear direction throughout. A topic will be discussed in a couple of paragraphs here and a whole chapter there with no cohesion inbetween. Portions of chapters seem to relate more to previous chapters than their own context. There was very little in the way of techniques or strategies that one could use in a practical way. I am bewildered at the number of 5 star ratings this book receives. The book is basically Annette's ramblings about what she thinks about stories. Look at the number of used sell-backs to get an idea of the value of this book.