I used to think storytelling was ONLY reserved for ‘the professionals’.

The journalists, authors, and comedians. But I stand corrected
***before you go pay for that inflated grad school degree in journalism (#me) just go get dirty first

Social media has exposed the talents of so many who are gifted storytellers and who leverage that power for their own goals.

For some, it’s a business.

For others, a community.

But in this line of work, I see a lot of people falling flat.

And while I do have a degree that I spent 10 YEARS PAYING OFF (don’t even get me started) the nerd in me is thankful I have foundational knowledge of storytelling.

Here are some common storytelling mistakes I see:


1. Not having a clear “why.”


The amount of time I mutter to myself “but so what” after I watch a video or read an email speaks to the No. 1 error most people make.

They fail to articulate the deeper reason behind their business or idea in a compelling way.

Without a purpose-driven story, it’s hard to make a memorable impact and this message must be ingrained again and again in all of your content.


2. Lacking authenticity.


Excuse me while I go take a shot because I said THE A WORD.

But showing up consistently does not mean you are authentic.  

Also, you being vulnerable doesn’t mean sharing “hard stuff.”

True vulnerability means you are able to acknowledge YOUR role, YOUR change, YOUR mistake in the hard stuff.

Most do not do this and it’s why so much content is cringe-worthy.

“Hard moments” cloaked in ego-driven stories or a total lack of introspection.  

A woman founder asked to be on my IG Live recently and wanted to share her “hard moments of being treated like $hit” by clients.

I said to her:
“Ok, well what was YOUR role in that?”

Silence.


3. Making it all about the product & service.


Most people focus too much on features and benefits versus the experience and transformation their product or service provides.

If your stories lack emotional resonance, they will not land.

One example is the Palm Desert, CA retreat I just went on in April.

Had the founders merely sold “the resort, the nature, the workshops”, I am not sure the price tag would have justified it for me.

If I want nature and a resort, I can do that with my friends, not with a bunch of women I have never met.

If I wanted workshops, I could seek those out in a much less $$ way.

But what the founders did is they SOLD ME on how I would feel AFTER this retreat.

The depth of the relationships I’d make in a short period of time and what that would mean for my life and business. ***credit card out.

OK, that’s it for this email but look for a part 2.

Let me know in the comments which one resonated with you the most!