Corey’s Story Journey: The Weight of Story
November 18, 2009
Annie’s Note: Corey just got back from a trip where he spent intensive time capturing a client’s story and we felt it important to Corey’s own creative process and story to tell it. So here is the story fresh and real from Corey’s own heart.
Corey: This morning on my call with Katie and Annie I spoke mostly about my recent trip with Daniel Cardwell and our work together on “A Question of Color”. I told them about my first trip to the grocery store with Dan to stock up our cabin in preparation for our five days together and how unusual it was to go shopping with someone for the first time.
The experience opened my eyes to how stories are often told between the lines. Imagine how much I learned about Dan when he reached for a dozen tins of sardines, four boxes of Nutrigrain bars, two cans of beans and three onions.
As we worked, which we did for an average of 18 hours each day, Dan would cook so I could keep my fingers working on the computer keys and it was through his cooking that I learned more about his life, about his journey.
He was a farmer and a survivor who had lived on his own on a farm from the age of 14. He knew how to throw whatever we had in the fridge together in such a way that it was tasty, nourished us, and kept our minds focused as we toured his life.
I also learned about myself this trip. About my creative process. Working 18 hours a day was difficult for me. At home I flip flop between projects every few minutes, but here I had to remain intensely focused for long stretches, both in listening to Dan’s stories and in then capturing them on the page.
Listening for long stretches taxed me emotionally; I knew that only 10% of what I was hearing was going to end up in the book, and yet I had to sift through the other 90% to find those gems. My mind clouded over numerous times and yet as soon as we came across a nugget, I would find myself invigorated, inspired and attentive again.
Because Dan’s book focuses on his search for his mother that spanned more than 25 years, in many ways we were putting together a detective story. That was his role as he traveled around the world, searching for his origins, accumulating about 24 inches worth of documents that we had to pull the greatest pieces from. Dan’s story and his struggle for survival in a world that wanted to throw him away was heartbreaking.
At the end of our trip, as we said our goodbyes at the airport, we had a “dude” moment as Annie called it on the phone this morning. We had shared this intimate journey of Dan’s life and his love for his mother and when we shook hands, we knew we had been through a special experience together.
The moment turned a bit awkward as we tried to navigate letting go of the week we had spent together. Part of me wanted to hug Dan and cry with him – to release all the pain of his story, but we settled on a fist-bump and a nod.
When I walked into the airport I became overwhelmed with emotion as it all finally hit me. His story is both beautiful and tragic, and he walks away the hero having overcome adversity beyond measure. He had the strength to not only search for 25 years but to then share that story (the good the bad and the ugly) for the sake of others. That’s a hero.
In the days since we have parted, I have dreamed of Dan and his book every night. In those dreams I always wake up started, feeling like I was searching and so close to something. That tells me we’re on the right track here and I’m excited to bring this story to the world.
Annie: Beautiful, touching, inspiring!
Corey’s Story Journey: Annie Hart Strikes Again
October 22, 2009
After our morning call with Katie, Annie reached out to talk privately with me to check in and see if there was some unresolved tension from last week.
I admitted that last night I had gotten nervous about our call today because I’m starting to feel how these calls impact my week. With so much else in life feeling all over the place (especially my own businesses), my anxiety struck late last night and I jumped in to dictate the direction of today’s call without letting Annie in on the “why”.
I usurped her role as story guide and jumped in to lead. I was feeling like my desk was cluttered and in order to see clearly through this project, I needed to get some busy work done to free up some brain space and feel accomplished. And that’s what we did today.
Before the call though, I was unable to be honest with Annie about the why and in this follow-up she gave me an opportunity to fill her in which strengthened our rapport. 
She asked permission to check in with me in the future when she sees me struggling through something and she also asked that I give her permission to lead us through such experiences. In reality, that’s exactly what I want. I don’t want to have to lead.
In this case, I had hoped Annie would read my mind and know how hectic life was and how badly I needed a great call with the team. But alas, as good a story guide as she is, she is not a mind reader, so we both need to work on keeping the communication open and honest so we can continue to grow as we work together and nurture this message. Bravo Annie Hart. You teach me so much!
Annie’s Note: This was a crucial and tender moment for Corey and I in the story process. Rapport is the single most important factor between the storyteller and the guide. I had the sense all week that something wasn’t sitting right and I wasn’t exactly sure how to address it. I usually try to wait and see what occurs naturally, but after the call this morning things still didn’t feel right, so I called Corey.
We had a great conversation. The basis of true understanding is to really hear a person’s situation underneath of their language. Through our conversation, I got a deeper sense of where Corey is and what’s important to him. I gained a greater awareness of how to make the process easy and enjoyable for him. My main role is to look out for his emotional well-being on the journey.
We had a lovely connection and through deepening our understanding, we drew closer. Thanks Corey, for being so open.
By the way, if you are enjoying reading my stories, and would like to receive them in your email box, click here.
Corey’s Story Journey: Back on Track
October 22, 2009
Last night I shared with my story guide Annie Hart that I needed us to have a structured call today. Since our call last week I was beginning to feel a bit desperate and depressed, like we had fallen off track.
Thankfully, because I am a story guide myself, I was able to pin point that quickly and ask Annie for structure. A few weeks ago, Annie and I had created a blue print for some of the book and had yet to dive into the detailed stories in that model we had created.
So today, we did just that and the call felt incredibly successful again. There are times to be philosophical and big picture and then there are times to dive into the trenches and do the work. Today we hunkered down and did the work and that felt great.
I am at an advantage in that I could express what I was feeling and help my story guide to change direction with me. Most of my clients do not have the ability to define what they are feeling and suggest a solution. Annie pointed that out to me on today’s call and that rung immediately true with me.
I cannot emphasize enough how going through this process myself is teaching me what I put my clients through and helping me see weak spots in my past process.
Annie and Katie working together with me, I feel like we are defining a new process we can use with future clients that will yield outstanding results. Could I ask for more?
Annie’s Note: After our call, I felt something that was unresolved from last week, so I called Corey and we had a wonderful conversation which really opened things up. See next post for details.
By the way, if you are enjoying reading my stories, and would like to receive them in your email box, click here.
Corey’s Story Journey: A Living Example
October 9, 2009
Every week this book writing process takes on a new path towards living. Last week I thought we had redefined the intention of the book. We had gone out on a limb and found a delicious piece of fruit and suddenly I wondered if we were supposed to be writing the book from that limb throughout. It felt exciting and dangerous. This week, we brought that piece of delectable fruit back to the center of the tree. I realized that my book is still very much about the creative process. What we have done though is to start to bring in some very personal stories (the fruit) that reveal what I have been through on my creative journey and that exemplify how the process works and how it is changing me profoundly week to week.
One of the big discoveries we made this morning was that last week was a moment in my book writing process when I went from wanting to control and to “Show” or “Tell” people about the creative process and about myself, to starting to look at all I have experienced through the lens of truth and to reveal it in its gory detail. Letting my story be what it is without trying to control it is a huge step in the paradigm shift that is necessary to create real change through a story. I’m calling it, “Giving people the good stuff.”
Some of what I say is going to upset people I know and some of it is going to upset people I don’t know. And I’m getting more and more comfortable with that. People are going to judge me. People might even say nasty things as I bring up painful issues they might also be experiencing, yet not dealing with in their own lives. My former self avoided conflict such as this at all costs. Now I am finding that bringing my good stuff does disrupt people’s comfortability with their own stuff and I’m trying to poke them awake to that. Resistance will come as I do that, but true listening will also be accomplished. I’m excited to start seeing that in real time.
And I cannot wait to start sharing these stories with you all. I hate that I cannot express them on this blog, but that would be robbing you (and me) of the experience of the book in its entirety. And I wouldn’t want to rob either of us of “the good stuff.” So thanks for hanging in there!
If you have yet to hear it, you might listen in to the last round table interview I did with Annie Hart and Katie Gutierrez Painter, my collaborators where we discussed last week’s epiphany. Enjoy!
Corey’s Story Journey: The Radio Show
September 13, 2009
From Corey: Yesterday, I was interviewed on Annie Hart’s radio show and wow – did we fly. Annie and I discussed the creative process we have undergone, highlighting the emotional roller coaster of creation, dealing with the uncomfortable aspects, using creative thinking to overcome obstacles, remaining flexible but committed and more.
Immediate feedback we received was that listeners enjoyed our energy and my business expertise combined with listener Erin Cohen’s perfect phrasing of “Annie’s ability to comfortably encourage you to free your soul.” Annie has an uncanny ability to do so! Next time we’ll need 60 minutes for sure!
Brian also shared, “It was excellent! I appreciate your transparency and authenticity. You and Annie have a special bond, and it’s awesome to hear that.”
From Annie: It was a wonderful show! Corey spoke loud and clear about the challenges of the creative process when you’re trying to open up the stories that are raw and real inside of you. I love working with Corey Blake and I’m very much looking forward to his story coming out fully and shining in the world.
Stay tuned. I’m going to have him back on the show again in the future.
Corey’s Story Adventure – Team Hard at Work
September 10, 2009
Today I got my ass kicked. Annie took on more of the directorial role and pushed me to dive into some new areas. We explored my producer side and where it was really born – which was in the world of catering of all things! My work at Universal Studios Theme Park was a launching pad for leading people and inspiring them to bring their best to the game.
We also explored more about Elevation 9000 films, the film company I led back in early 2000. I had the wonderful and joyous experience of describing all the members of our company – there were 9 of us, such bright and shining personalities.
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Fro, the Egyptian Stoner
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Brad, my big bear sidekick who looked like he should be a country music star
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Christina, the beautiful no holds bar Texas tornado
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Cambria, the part time nurse who could act up a storm when she got rolling, but never quite had the confidence in herself
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John, the older, wiser business owner of the group. Chris, the religious conservative Hawaiian who was a teacher at the school we all went to
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Lisa, the woman I desperately loved against my better judgment
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Ward, we called him The KID
This was my family for a year and half. What a gift to revisit what I loved about each of them. What a shame that we crumbled to pieces. Life, like the storytelling process, is a roller coaster ride!
Corey’s Audio Epiphany
July 9, 2009
Corey and I are working on going deeper into the important dialogue between his “Dreamer” who is very critical and his “Wimp” who is dragging down his dreams. We did this piece live and on the spot, not pre-planned or rehearsed.
What I love about this raw and real piece is that it is exactly like the dialogue that we truly have going on inside of our heads. If there is one BIG reason why we never get our dreams off the ground, it’s because we have an inner critic in there that is pummeling us.
The other thing I love about this piece is that by bringing it out in story, through the creative expression it actually becomes alive and interesting. Rather than something that is tearing us down, the creative process transforms it into enlivening expression. Corey and I had fun with this work. Once again, he’s breaking through the barriers!
From Corey: This morning I had a call with the Amazing Annie Hart in which my Dreamer made some discoveries and my Wimp hit a huge epiphany. I’ve made the decision to share this in real time:
Corey’s Note: I drop quite a few “F Bombs” so please be aware when you play this.
Connect With Annie Hart
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