Story Type #2: Rags to Riches

The Story

In 1945 Sam got discharged from the Army and was looking for two things.  A place to live and an opportunity to be in retail.  When he asked his wife Helen about moving to a big city she said, "Sam, we've been married two years and we've moved sixteen times.  Now, I'll go with you any place you want so long as you don't ask me to live in a big city.  Ten thousand people is enough for me."

So Sam started looking for "five and dimes" retail stores in cities under 10,000 people.  He finally settled on a Ben Franklin Variety store in Newport, Arkansas, population 7,000.  He paid $25,000 to buy a store with the highest retail rent in the country (5% of sales) and sales that were half of a similar store across the street.

From humble beginnings Sam Walton turned a $25000 investment into a fortune that placed his wife and four children on the Forbes 400 Richest American's, with net worth of $18 billion each.
-Walton, Sam. Sam Walton Made In America. New York: Doubleday, 1992. Print.  p.21
- Forbes. "The Forbes 400: America's richest 400 just get richer - MSN Money." Personal Finance and Investing - MSN Money. Forbes, n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2010. .


Other Rags to Riches Stories

• Microsoft
• Starbucks
• United Postal Service
• Standard Oil
• Coca Cola
• Bert's Bees

The Rags to Riches story starts with someone who doesn't have much.  Through luck and hard work they end of wealthy.  They key to this type of story is that the hero has an Everyman quality.  In the above story you will see all these elements.  If you have read anything about Sam Walton you will see that he was the typical Everyman driving around in an old pickup truck.

The only danger in using this type of story is that it usually ends.  People die, businesses mature, tastes change.  Be careful using this type of story as after the goal is reached you will need to present another goal to help the audience refocus.

-Morgan, Nick. Working the Room: How to Move People to Action through Audience-Centered Speaking. New York: Harvard Business School Press, 2003. Print.  p. 66

How Do I Use The Above Information

• If you are working with an audience that has to reach a goal this is a great story type. 
• Use the sources from yesterday's post to find a story that will resonate with your audience.
• Provide only details that move the story forward. Show the hero at the start, what they did to start their journey, the work they put in to moving forward, and how they finally reached their goal.  Insert best practices along the way.
• Remember that the hero in your story should end the story with the same thoughts and values as at the start of the story.  No one wants to associate with someone who isn't a little like themselves.