And then you need to plot your course and measure how you are doing with reference to the goal and the obstacle. If this is simply an intellectual exercise, though, it doesn't work. People have to be brought into the story viscerally and feel that, yes, this is my story, I want to be part of this. Richard Branson, who created the Virgin Group, has pretty much replayed the story of David and Goliath again and again. He's running an upstart company and he moves into one industry after another, airlines, music, movies and more.
People respond to that.
I think there's probably a finite number, and, if you look at the ones that are invoked frequently, it would probably be a fairly small number. Certainly the story of the little guy conquering big obstacles is a common one. Yes, but I think there are two things about effective leaders. That's where spin doctoring doesn't work. President Clinton is a wonderful storyteller, but he tells too many stories and it's not clear which ones he believes in.