I find it fascinating that in nearly every story, the hero needs a call
Isn’t that weird?
This is so consistent and – upon reflection – symptomatic of our own lives that we can quickly recognize how universal it is.
Isn’t it odd that none of us seem in a hurry to do much of anything until we are shoved?
- You don’t study seriously until you are about to flunk out.
- You don’t start your own business until you get laid off.
- And you don’t care much about that toy until your sister wants it too.
Newton’s first law immediately comes to might here.
But I say calm down.
And appreciate how to be idle.
In stories, characters never take action on their own. They have to be challenged to take action. Tom Cruise’s character would never have journeyed to pick up his brother in the movie Rain Man unless he’d received a call explaining his father had died. Romeo wouldn’t have climbed into the Capulet courtyard unless he’d fallen sick with love for Juliet. Elle Woods wouldn’t have applied to Harvard unless she’d been dumped by her boyfriend. Liam Neeson’s character wouldn’t have chased the bad guys to Europe unless his daughter had been kidnapped.
-Donald Miller, Building A StoryBrand
