Tell the real story, not the right story

People connect with stories rather than sales pitches—known fact. But quite often, I see many people (myself included) waiting for a happy ending to feel they can start sharing their stories. I learned on my journey that for people to resonate with your story, you don’t have to tell a perfect story. You have to tell the real story.

Narrate your journey, the highs and lows, the failures and successes, the learning, and the growth. There’s no “perfect” ending required to start sharing your story. It’s ongoing, evolving, as you are.
So don’t waste time waiting for a perfect happy ending, and start sharing your real story right now. Because until you do that, you would never know who needed to hear your story exactly at this very moment. And once you start sharing your story, YOUR people will come to you because of you.

Some sources of stories you can start looking for in your daily life :

1. Your Story:

• Passion: Share what ignited your passion for your industry and/or company and what makes your eyes sparkle today
• Values: Highlight the values that drive your work and how they align with your audience’s values.
• Why: Communicate the purpose behind what you do & the impact you strive to make.
• First Day: Recall your initial experiences, the excitement, and the challenges you faced.
• Lessons Learned: Share pivotal moments that taught you valuable lessons & shaped your journey.
• Behind the Scenes: Offer a glimpse into your day-to-day life, projects, and processes.
• Daily Adventures: Share interesting anecdotes, learnings, encounters, or discoveries from your work life.
• Challenges: Discuss obstacles you’ve overcome
• Dreams: Paint a picture of your vision for the future & the aspirations you’re working towards.
• Achievements: Celebrate milestones & successes that reflect your growth and expertise.
• Hobbies: Connect with your audience by sharing your interests outside of work and how they contribute to your overall success.

2. Your Customer’s Story:

• Customer Experiences: Share success stories and testimonials that showcase what has positively impacted your clients.
• Customer Challenges: Discuss common pain points and how you have addressed them.
• Customer Dreams: Connect with your audience’s aspirations and demonstrate how you can help them achieve their goals.

3. The Story of the Product/Service/Team:

• History: Trace the origins and evolution of your product, service, or team, emphasizing key milestones.
• Behind the Stage: Offer insights into the development process, highlighting the dedication and expertise behind your offerings.
• Challenges: Discuss the obstacles faced while creating or implementing your product or service.
• Lessons: Share valuable lessons learned while building and refining your offerings.
• Fun Facts: Inject some personality by sharing exciting or quirky facts about your product, service, or team.