“Tell me the facts and I’ll learn. Tell me the truth and I’ll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever.” An old Native American proverb
Are you selective about the stories you choose to tell?
Do you avoid sharing experiences where you have struggled, felt foolish or maybe appeared too boastful?
Perhaps, you simply can’t imagine anyone would be interested?
Stories are one of the most powerful tools you can use to engage and connect with your audience. Why is that?
The reality is people buy from the person they share an emotional connection with. The person they believe intimately understands their pain, disappointments, and challenges.
We all have a story to tell! Watch the video to learn how the lessons you’ve learned along your journey can inspire, influence and impact peoples’ lives.
Likely, you have heard the phrase “Facts tell, stories sell”. This is key because like in a movie, everyone loves hearing about characters who face challenges and overcome them. Like a character in a movie, telling your own stories gives your audience insight into the challenge and disappointment you have faced as well as the lessons and personal growth needed to achieve your success. It gives your audience a more intimate look at the journey and passion that actually inspired you to develop your product or service. Your story allows for a deeper more intimate connection with your audience. It actually earns you the right to teach and creates the influence and impact needed to ultimately ask for the sale. Let’s look at 3 reasons why telling your own stories can humanize what you are selling and make your connections with people much more influential and impactful.
1- Storytelling Paints a Picture.
“A picture is worth a thousand words.” Your ability to use words that allow someone to see an image and experience emotions are more effective than facts and data. Pictures transport us and take us on a journey. What makes storytelling magical is that no journey is exactly the same. It allows each listener to experience a vision created from their unique experience and perspective.
2- Storytelling Activates Your Emotions.
Storytelling provokes an emotional reaction in the listener. As words are used to take the listener on a journey, he or she is able to identify and emotionally connect with the characters in the story. It is the emotional connection that creates the opportunity for the listener to be open to exploring a new solution or possibility.
3- Communicate Information.
Storytelling has been used for centuries to transfer information and teach. It is a fundamental part of any culture. Stories are used to pass on knowledge from generation to generation. It’s what families do over dinner, or children do while daydreaming. In effect, we are all natural storytellers!
“Stories are amazing and powerful because they can resonate with people depending on their needs and experiences and speak truths we need to hear in that moment in time.” – Sue Monk Kidd
I believe we all have a powerful story to tell. Take the time to discover and articulate the lessons found in your story. Then consider how you could use this story to impact, influence and inspire your audience? Remember an audience can be one person or thousands. I invite you to use your story to create change one person at a time.