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- Your Story Isn't Boring.
Not long ago, I started listening to a podcast I really wanted to like.
The topic was my thing and the host was generally knowledgeable, according to my research. And, the production quality was good!
But then came the intro: Hi everyone, welcome to the podcast.
Then, the small talk. A bit of rambling. About 20 seconds in I had tuned out.
It wasn’t the content that lost me. It was the delivery. There was no tension, no energy, and frankly no reason to care!
And that’s the challenge today. We’re not just competing for attention - we’re competing with everything.
The doom scroll. The inbox. The Netflix algorithm and the myriad distractions that make up a life.
The way to tell a story that resonates is to be deliberate about it. If you don’t think what you’re doing is working, it’s probably because you lack intentionality.
Let’s dive into how you can make your story stand out.
♾️ Storytelling Is Human
It’s important to note that people often treat storytelling as if it’s a creative extra. A nice-to-have. But, it’s essential to passing on knowledge and wisdom.
We can see this if we go way back. Before there were pitch decks, there were Babylonian myths carved in clay, like The Epic of Gilgamesh, where a king faces monsters, loss, and mortality.
Fast-forward a few centuries and Socrates didn’t stand at a podium reciting facts. He used questions, anecdotes, and dialogue, pulling people into his story so they could draw their own conclusions.
These timeless methods never die. If you stick to tension, emotion, curiosity - your stories will stand out because these are the things our brains are wired to remember.
🌐 Get Straight to the Point
A mistake too many people make is to build momentum by setting the scene.
They open with context, backstory, and disclaimers.
But online, nobody wants the preamble.
Instead of:
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about leadership.
Try:
I once had to fire my best friend.
Start with the turning point and not the warm-up and drop people into the moment of change. It captures their attention and gets them listening.
☺️ Make it Personal
The best stories are the ones where you’re honest rather than concerned with appearances and status.
A few examples:
The moment you messed up.
The insight that came at the worst possible time.
The day you nearly gave up, then didn’t.
That’s what makes people relate. Your narrative arc from catastrophe to realisation.
We can see this in the ancient world where heroes weren’t perfect. The Greek king Odysseus could be viewed as just a tired man just trying to get home, screwing up along the way.
The human element in storytelling is what makes ancient tales endure.
✅ Tell a Story That Lands
Whether you’re speaking at an event or appearing on a podcast interview, ask yourself three things:
Where’s the moment of change?
What shifted?What did it feel like?
People remember emotions more than explanations.Why should anyone care?
What’s the deeper insight or takeaway they’ll walk away with?
Start at the moment that matters rather than giving a long-winded backstory.
🥜 In a Nutshell
Good storytelling isn’t about exaggeration. It’s about not being scared to show the Wizard of Oz behind the curtain.
The humour is in bitter truth - in the journey of being human.
If you are too concerned with image or detail, you could be inadvertently switching people off. The goal isn’t to sound impressive. It’s to inspire, give hope and tell timeless truths.
Until next time,
🌟Hannah