Chasing MacGuffins (5-7-25)

Explore the mystery of the Ark of the Covenant with Indiana Jones on ...

This will be the final entry in the series inspired by storytelling tricks and mechanics. This week is about chasing MacGuffins.

A MacGuffin is a plot device that serves as a catalyst for action throughout the story. It’s something that characters are motivated to acquire. Often, the MacGuffin is an object, but it could also be a goal or an idea. For example, a popular object MacGuffin would be the Ark of the Covenant from Raiders of the Lost Ark. This was from the first Indiana Jones film. The movie follows Indiana Jones, an archaeologist, as he goes on a globetrotting adventure to find and secure the Ark before the Nazis can get it and use its powers. All the action, conflict, and movement all are driven toward acquiring this MacGuffin. Without the MacGuffin, there wouldn’t be an Indiana Jones story. There wouldn’t be anything driving him forward to achieve.

Let’s connect this to life. Sometimes, I find myself working and running around endlessly. Then, I pause for a moment, and I realize that I’m not sure what I was running toward or why I was running. Has this ever happened to you? Maybe we all need a MacGuffin to bring clarity and lead to action. Sometimes, my MacGuffin is a medal, which serves as a catalyst for me to train and prepare for a race. Sometimes, my MacGuffin is a specific deliverable, which causes me to really focus on what matters. Sometimes, my MacGuffin is the idea of being an awesome dad, which causes me to be a lot more in tune with how I’m parenting.

The challenge: What is a MacGuffin worthy of your pursuit?

Bonus fun question: If your MacGuffin is an idea, what physical thing would embody that idea? Maybe it’s embodied by a statue, a diamond, or something else.

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry

Perspective and The Wicked Witch (4-30-25)

A person in a person garment

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I’m excited to continue our series focused on storytelling tricks and mechanics. Last week was about world-building and culture. This week is about the Wicked Witch and perspective.

Is the Wicked Witch evil? It depends on what perspective the story is told from. The Wizard of Oz is told from Dorothy’s perspective. It’s about her finding friends, and the Wizard of Oz telling her she has to defeat the evil Wicked Witch of the West, so she can go home. Wicked is told from the Wicked Witch’s perspective. Before she was the Wicked Witch, she was Elphaba. The story follows her growing up as an outcast and being a rising hero until the Great and Powerful Oz turns on her and brands her as the Wicked Witch. (By the way, the Wicked move was amazing!)

What does this have to do with anything? I find it so fascinating how an entire story can change, just by altering your perspective. I grew up on The Wizard of Oz, always just accepting Dorothy’s perspective. Then, I saw Wicked for the first time, and suddenly I saw an entirely different side of the story.

Think of your own life. How often does something similar play out for you? Have you ever thought you understood a situation, and then had your opinion changed when presented with a different point of view? I’ve learned over time that we all have our default perspective on things, and it’s our responsibility to stay open to other ways of viewing things. I’ve also learned it takes a lot of strength to suspend your own beliefs and judgment to take the time to see the story though someone else’s eyes.

The challenge- How will you take on the perspective of others?

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry

World-Building and Culture (4-22-25)

Last week we kicked off a series focused on different storytelling tricks and mechanics, and we analyzed unreliable narrators. This week we are going to dive into world-building and culture.

World-building is the creation of a fictional world that is believable and consistent within the context of the story (WORLDBUILDING Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster). It is comprised of all of the details that describe the world, how it works, and how the characters operate in that world. Some fictional worlds are grounded in realism, while some are grounded in fantasy.

Pretend for a minute that you’re reading a story that takes place in England. There are dragons in the story. Does it make sense to have dragons in the story? It depends. If the book is Pride and Prejudice, and the world is built more on realism then the dragons don’t fit. If the book is Harry Potter, and the world is built on magic and mythical creature than a dragon fits right in.

You’re probably wondering how this connects to work. Pretend for a minute that someone challenges the leader in a meeting. Is this okay? It depends. If the culture is one that is built on hierarchy and fear, then this is not acceptable behavior. If this is a psychologically safe culture where people are encouraged to challenge ideas, then not only is challenging the leader acceptable, but it is also expected. I’ve been on teams in both situations, have you? How did you feel about living in each of those cultures?

With all this in mind, what if building culture is the same thing as world-building? Building culture is comprised of all of the details that describe the group’s mission, how the team works, and how the characters operate within that culture. We can influence all of those things. We can set the mission. We can set the tone for what mindsets and behaviors are acceptable and rewarded. We all have the power to influence and build the culture we want to be in.

The challenge- What kind of world, what kind of culture will you build?

Bonus deep reflection- What kind of culture/world do you think your actions create around you? How do your behaviors create that culture/world?

I’d hope that people say, “Andrew creates a culture of care, creativity, and nerdtastic fun and authenticity.” These are the things I’m intentionally trying to build. I try to invest time in understanding people and showing them I appreciate them. I build a culture of creativity by embracing messy problems, making connections, and being willing to try new things. I’m nerdtastic fun from my socks to my Team’s background, which sends a message that I’m comfortable with who I am and I want you to be who you are too. I may not always succeed at building this world, but that’s what I constantly try to do.

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry