There’s a lot of talk out there about “telling your story.” That story may be your life story or, for an organization, your brand story. If you want anyone to hear what you have to say, your story needs to stand out and it needs to be valuable to your audience.
For that reason, before you tell your story, you need to be crystal clear on one thing. And that’s your “why.”
Speak from Your “Why”
As Simon Sinek revealed in this powerful TED Talk, “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.”
So whenever and however you tell your story, you must speak out of your “why.”
If that’s a little bit of a fuzzy concept, ask yourself:
- Why did I launch this business? Or, for an individual, why did I take this path through life?
- What motivates me (and my team) to get up every day and keep doing this?
- What need am I trying to meet? What solution am I proposing? What difference will this make?
- Why should anybody care?
Key takeaway: Write for your primary audience. Edit for your secondary one.
Make your answers the foundation for every type of storytelling you do. Any time you interact with someone, let your “why” shine through. As Neil Patel and Ritika Puri wrote here,
“Storytelling is more than what you say explicitly. It’s how you communicate your message and how you connect with your target audiences. . . Your brand’s stories are values infused in every piece of copy, customer service answer…”
Connect what matters to your audience to what matters to you. They’ll be hooked—on you, your work, and what you have to offer.
Got that foundation? Great. Read my next post for a good look at ten of the best forms your story can take.
Connect what matters to your audience
to what matters to you.
They’ll be hooked—on you, your work,
and what you have to offer.
If you’re ready to share the reason behind what you do
but need someone else to communicate it to the world,
perhaps I can help.
Contact me and find out today.
Start working with Karen today
Today could be the day your load gets lighter.
Ask Karen Ingle to make that happen.
