Is it Fun to be Famous?
“Your success in life will be determined largely by your own ability to speak, your ability to write and the quality of your ideas.” Patrick Henry Winston
Winston gave an annual speech to MIT students on how to communicate, titled simply, “How to Give a Talk.”The room was always packed and millions have watched videos of the late professor’s expert skill in doing what he portends to teach. He elaborated that three components were factors: how much knowledge you have, how much practice you have done, plus your inherent talent.
Serious Christians are drawn to articles like this, but usually lose interest because it is secular in nature. The reason? We naturally react negatively to a standard of performance. Our theology of grace makes earning something suspect. Deep down however, after we break through our theological veil, our natural default, or wiring, is to perform or act. And Professor Winston gives his hearers something to do. The fact is that it is impossible to be without doing. We are made to do, to act, to work, to practice and to improve. Christians often confuse the impulse to improve for acceptance from God with the need to improve a skill or ability. I’ve often heard, who knows, I may have said it myself, “God provides the power, the gifts, the opportunities and he will compensate for my lack of skill and talent.” Yes, that often happens, but he also gives us gifts and we are expected to be good stewards of them—and they require research and development. When we don’t want to perform, work hard, or practice discipline, we might tend to excuse ourselves with:
“I refused to know anything among you but Christ and him crucified.”[1]
The New Living Translation clarifies it a bit:
“I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness-timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.”[2]
For Paul, it was about audience. He said his refrain from using his philosophical training and theological expertise was temporary because he did use it with mature believers. It could be said that what Dr. Winston advocates isn’t eloquence—unless you’ve got it. Paul was trained for it, but his critics didn’t think he had the talent. Paul was a master communicator and whatever he did, he was willing to discipline himself and work hard. What he was really teaching was, in order to present yourself and your message to the world, you need clarity, preparation, and recognition of what skills and talents you have.
Is it fun to be famous?
Dr. Winston was a world-famous Artificial Intelligence leader while at MIT. His talk on how to give a talk is distinguished by its emphasis on effectively getting your ideas out to the world. If you are going to bother learning something, then figure out how to be heard. He tells a story about going to a fundraising event to save the city of Venice from sinking into the sea and having all its art destroyed. He was seated next to the famous television cook and author Julia Child. As the evening wore on many times over people would stop by her table for an autograph, a photo, an introduction. Finally, Professor Winston asked, “Miss Child, is it fun to be famous?” She thought about it for a second and said, “You get used to it.” But then it occurred to Dr. Winston, “You never get used to being ignored.”
Your ideas are like children and you want them to go into the world and succeed. So, you want to know techniques and mechanisms that have trained you to present your ideas so they will be recognized for the value that is in them. I think that is what the Apostle Paul wanted—his words and ideas to be presented most effectively to each audience. The reason so many people don’t advance is they are not good at presenting their ideas. They unnecessarily experience failure of the worse kind—to be ignored and not taken seriously.
Your Story Star
Winston found a way to communicate who he was and how to convey his ideas. His was a simple star drawn on a piece of paper.
The star at the top of this column is my star dressed up for a presentation. I recently read that when you ask people to join you in a cause, don’t appeal to their conscience, appeal to their greatness. That is how you get a job done. People are not motivated by attempts to guilt them into action for some moral cause, but offer them the role of the cavalry, and they’re right there with you. I incorporated much sage advice in developing my own Story Star. The Story Star has five points. If you can make all five points that, in the end, tell an effective story, you will be well on your way.
1. Symbol
My symbol at the time was a simple pair of glasses similar to those worn by the Christian theologian and martyr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
2. Slogan
We Turn leaders into Disciple Makers
3. Surprise
Ah ha! Moment
“I’ve been wrong.” This is a short illustration of what someone learned.
4. Salient Idea
The gospel you believe determines the disciples you make
This doesn’t need to be the most important idea, but one that sticks out.
5. Story
Your story is how you did whatever you did. Why it works and what it did for others. I have always presented the problem of weakening the gospel through dividing it.
The separation of conversion from discipleship, therefore, dividing salvation into several segments and stripping it of its transformative power.
The beauty of the Story Star is it becomes your reason for living. It makes it possible for you to easily communicate your life’s story, purpose, work, and goals. It also becomes your stump speech, a presentation that is ready to go anytime, day or night.[3] Dr. Winston mentioned in his introduction that the uniform code of military justice specifies a court martial for any officer who sends a solider into battle without a weapon. There ought to be similar protection for any Christian teacher, leader, or person in a local congregation.[4]
Bill Hull
February 2023
[1] I Corinthians 2:2
[2] I Corinthians 2:1-5
[3] 2 Timothy 4:2-4 Be ready in season, out of season. Be like a tree that bears fruit in every season, not just during a certain season. Psalm 1.
Confesso, acabei de ler o melhor livro, Conversão e Discipulado. Alinhou o meu ministério pastoral e promoveu o start de treinar líderes para serem discipuladores eficazes.