How to Captivate Audiences with Heartfelt Stories
He had the stories in his heart and his head.
But David couldn’t get them out on paper.
No, it wasn’t a sales presentation or media coaching.
David was an accomplished project manager and engineer who was referred to me by a mutual business acquaintance.
He had a personal communication project that was new to me.
Look, I had ghostwritten nearly 1,000 posts, articles, bios, speeches, editorials and messages during my 35 years in the news and communication industry.
But never one like this.
David needed a Father of the Bride speech for his daughter Melissa’s rehearsal dinner. 😍
This was big; 150 people at the dinner and 500 for the wedding the next day. David knew some of the guests intimately; the others he had never met.
People would be watching.
And judging.
It could be a tough crowd.
And David—whom I had never met in real life—admits he’s...
- Self-conscious
- Awkward
- Unsure of what to say
And, he confides in me that he simply wants his daughter and family to be proud of him.
And for context, David also mentions that engineers aren’t the best communicators.
But I already knew that because I’ve trained and coached engineers.😎
They are left-brain thinkers— analytical and logical.
Their people skills aren’t the best.
This speech was emotional and right brain.
And creativity is extremely subjective. It can get dicey.
Look, David and I both knew this could be a home run...or a hot mess.
I had five days to give David his Father of the Bride speech.
So, we agreed on a price and scope of work and scheduled an “old-fashioned” phone call, the first step in my Stories That Sell System. I use this same system for business stories where we open hearts and close contracts.
For David, he needed to open up, so he asked how he can prepare for the call.
Just show up, and I’ll ask you some casual questions, I told him.
Nothing tricky. Plan for 45 minutes.
I didn’t prepare much either because I know the beauty of my system is to allow conversations to unfold naturally.
All I have to do is be an epic listener and I would know exactly where I was going to take David.
I scribbled down a few questions and we jumped on the phone.
Here’s the thing about personal—and business—stories:
📢There is magic hiding in the mundane.
The best stories come from our everyday activities, not graduations, proms or promotions.
But all too often, we dismiss routine experiences and gloss over the defining moments.
Life distracts us into thinking we are ordinary.
For years, coaching clients like David have told me they’re not interesting.
Some insist they’re ridiculously boring.
Sound familiar?
“I don’t have a story” is a common theme when I first start working with clients, especially in my Story Magnets program.
And then, I show them the Stories That Sell System.
It breathes life back into people.
Wondering how I can be so sure that you have a story?
I believe one thing to my very core:
There are no ordinary moments in life.
When you step back and look at your own life through my Stories That Sell System, your magic will rise to the top.
Your story gently takes shape, and you feel a deep sense of relief.
Relief in finally getting the right words out in the right order so they make sense, captivate prospects and bring more clients.
That’s why entrepreneurs in the Pandemic who know they have to be seen and heard on social media work with me.
They know that without a presence—a story—their business is at risk of faltering.
Or failing.
Being curious and asking questions to make the run-of-the-mill come alive is my jam.
It lights me up to show you how worthy you are of sharing your story.
To show you that your story — your moments — are extraordinary.
I connect the dots—the moments—in such an interesting way that my clients are eager to share their stories online and in-person with:
- Prospects who need their expertise and can hire or refer them
- Podcasters and influencers who invite them for interviews and exciting opportunities
- Organizers who pay them to speak at virtual and in-person events
Stories are that powerful!
And as my client David discovered, it’s the small everyday moments that matter:
❤A conversation at the fast-food drive-thru
❤A quick reassuring glance during a high school soccer tournament
❤A card made on pink construction paper from a 3rd grader expressing how she loves her science class—and her family
In that one phone call with David, my questions opened up his mind, heart and stories.
Things flowed.
There was a pride and joy in David’s voice as he talked about Melissa and her fiancée.
I felt David’s trust as I gently guided him through the Stories That Sell System.
David told me about the day Melissa was born. He spoke of the wedding that was just around the corner.
And we were done.
I hung up, flipped through my notes and began to write while David’s words and voice were fresh in my mind.
The next day, I made a few edits and emailed David his speech.
Would he love it or loathe it?
A few hours later, David’s email pops up in my inbox.
Score!!
David is giddy with his Father of the Bride Speech!
He’s thankful for how I beautifully captured the essence of his relationship with Melissa — in his own voice.
That’s the beauty of my Stories That Sell System.
And what's even better is that it works for personal and professional stories.
I ask you the questions.
You answer.
I plug your journey, business expertise and sentiment into my Stories That Sell System so that you own the words.
Then, you use your story...
⚡On the "About Me" page of your website
⚡For podcast interviews
⚡When introducing yourself
The third and final step in my Stories That Sell System involves one last phone call.
I offer David specific strategies so he can memorize his speech, deliver it with just the right inflection and feel comfortable in the spotlight.
A few weeks later, David sends me a note with his profuse appreciation.
His speech was spellbinding.💥
He had people glued to his every word. 👈
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. 🤧
I smile to myself and hope that they all live 🤗 happily. ever. after.
