The funny thing about stories is they seem to be plentiful when we don't need them and woefully absent when we do. The only way you're going to have stories available to tell when you need them is to look for them.

Tip 1: Believe You Have A Story To Tell

Most  people don't believe they have a story to tell; or if they do, they don't think their story is important, unique, or that anyone would care to hear it. If you're one of these people, suspend this belief right now. You have a lifetime of personal stories. Your most impactful stories will be the ones you mistake as simple or ordinary because they're the ones your audience will relate to. The simple, ordinary stories resonate because they allow your audience to think... I'm not alone after all; that happened to me too! 

Tip 2: Know "Why" You’re Telling a Story

We tell stories to connect through our shared experiences, beliefs, and purpose. We appreciate facts and logic — even wit; but we feel story.

Telling your personal stories will provide opportunities to be transparent and allow your audience a glimpse of your authentic self and help you to develop trust, to influence behavior, and to inspire action.

Decide what purpose you have for telling a story. How do you want to change the hearts and minds of your audience?

Tip 3: Stories are often in plain sight

Look for stories in your past experiences. Tap Your Time Machine. Rummage through playlists, photos, social media… to help you examine memory lane.

Look at your challenging moments: times of fear, failure or frustration. Look for who or what helped you move forward…

Learn to recognize the stories happening right now. Be as engaged in life as you wish your audience to be engaged with you.



Be ready to capture stories. Take notes in an app on your phone. Capture story inspiration in photographs, video, or with a voice recorder.

Tip 4: Don’t immediately judge your stories

Give your memories and ideas a chance to live a little before you label them insignificant. Take a little time and consider, what someone else could take away from your experience?