Alice In Wonderland

Does anyone not know the story of Alice in Wonderland? This story includes a white rabbit, a mad hatter, a cheshire cat, a Queen of Hearts and many other characters that have become sources for contstant literary reference. Written by Lewis Carroll in 1865, Alice in Wonderland is considered a classic example of the genre and of English literature in general. For those that have been living in a hole (get the pun?) their entire life, the novel tells the story of a girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit-hole into a fantastic realm populated by peculiar and anthropomorphic creatures.

The narrative structure of Alice in Wonderland has influenced countless other novels and movies and is respected as one of the best structures for a story. I use Carroll’s work to explain to others how to tell a story in an interesting way. You may not realize it, but the story of Alice in Wonderland has been told over and over again since 1865. If you think the Wizard of Oz was completely original, you need to wake up from your dream. And for all the special effects and great Keanu Reeves acting, the Matrix Trilogy was really Alice in Wonderland repackaged for the 21st Century.

What is it about Alice in Wonderland that made it such an archetype for the telling of a fantastical story? While we all remember the crazy adventures of Alice and the mystical creatures she encounters, we all forget the beginning. How did Alice get into this mess in the first place? Alice and her sister are sitting next to a tree in a calm field when Alice becomes tired. At this moment she suddenly sees a white rabbit with a watch and follows it down a rabbit-hole. This story makes such an impact on our psyches because it juxtaposes a relevant and grounded situation with adventures that stretch our imagination. Without the normal everyday setting of a lazy afternoon in a field, Alice in Wonderland would be considered a story for drug induced junkies.

Lesson: Start your stories from a grounded place. Show your audience how exciting and fun your stories are, given the circumstances. Audiences want to relate, no matter how crazy your story turns out.

Tom Peters Coins “Personal Branding”

Just over ten years ago management guru Tom Peters coined the term “personal branding” in a Fast Company article. In the piece entitled “The Brand Called You,” Peters argued this is the age of the individual and we are all CEOs – of Me Inc.

“You’re every bit as much a brand as Nike, Coke, Pepsi, or the Body Shop. To start thinking like your own favorite brand manager, ask yourself the same question the brand managers at Nike, Coke, Pepsi, or the Body Shop ask themselves: What is it that my product or service does that makes it different? Give yourself the traditional 15-words-or-less contest challenge. Take the time to write down your answer. And then take the time to read it. Several times.”

Peters’ main message was that we all should proactively manage our reputation. And to do this we need to understand and use the techniques corporate marketing departments have refined over generations to position products and services to stand out in a crowded field.

Since 1997 the importance of personal reputation management or personal branding has increased with the advent of blogs, Facebook, MySpace, Linkedin and the acceleration of globalization. This article really takes you back to the future.