The Power of Story in Business

Did you miss the last Office Hours featured StoryBrand expert Dawn Kern?

She reminded us of something simple but game-changing: the story you tell either connects or it confuses. Most business owners are unknowingly the hero of their own story, when what really wins clients is putting them at the center.

When you make your audience the hero, you stop fighting for attention and start creating trust. It’s not about being louder, it’s about being clearer.

That’s where story turns into strategy.

Top Insights & Action Steps

1. Why Stories Stick

Many entrepreneurs drown their audience in details, forgetting that the brain only locks onto narrative. Story creates focus, while facts alone fade into noise.
Insight: The human brain is wired for narrative and it ignores noise and locks onto story. Facts fade, but stories anchor meaning.
Ask Yourself: Am I explaining what I do with facts and features, or am I framing it as a story my audience can see themselves in?
Next Action: Rewrite your one-liner as a mini story: “We help [hero] who struggles with [problem] get to [success].”

2. The Story Your Audience Actually Cares About

Business owners often lead with credentials, but customers aren’t looking for proof of your résumé; they’re searching for proof you understand them.
Insight: Your MBA, credentials, or history aren’t the story; it’s your customer’s problem. People pay attention when they see themselves in what you share.
Ask Yourself: When I talk about my business, do I spend more time proving my worth, or proving I understand my client’s pain?
Next Action: Audit your homepage, pitch deck, or LinkedIn “About” section. Cross out any “I/we” sentences and reframe them in terms of the client.

3. The Story Points That Matter Most

Clarity always wins over cleverness. Customers only need a simple map that connects their problem, solution, and success. Anything more becomes clutter.
Insight: Customers need clarity on three things: what you do, how it solves their problem, and what life looks like after. Anything more muddies the message.
Ask Yourself: Could a 12-year-old understand my offer in 30 seconds or less?
Next Action: Test your messaging with a friend outside your industry. If they can’t repeat back what you do simply, simplify more.

4. Anti-Sleaze Storytelling

Too many leaders fear storytelling because it feels like “selling.” But the right story doesn’t push, it invites. Authenticity always outperforms hype.
Insight: Authenticity beats hype every time. StoryBrand isn’t about tricks, it’s about making your offer feel safe, real, and valuable.
Ask Yourself: Am I using story to manipulate or to clarify?
Next Action: Replace salesy words like “best, innovative, leading” with clear promises of outcomes your clients actually want.

Next Casual Office Hours

Office Hours on Sept 5th is more than a conversation—it’s the reveal of what’s next for our community. You’ll want to be in the room for this one.

Friday, Sept 5th at 11:00 AM PST: 
You’ll leave each session with:

• 💡 Fresh clarity on your toughest challenges

• 🤝 Connection to a community that truly has your back

• 🚀 The confidence to take meaningful next steps in business and life

Coaching Nudge:

Your message doesn’t have to be perfect. It has to be clear. Clarity is what earns trust and creates momentum. This week, pick just one piece of your story: your website headline, your elevator pitch, or your LinkedIn summary, and rewrite it with your customer as the hero.

💬 Bonus reflection - Take it Further:

When was the last time you asked your clients what they heard in your story? The story you think you’re telling isn’t always the one being received. Before adding more words, offers, or campaigns, pause and check: Is my message landing the way I intended, or is it creating noise? 

💥 Are You In The Casual Community Channels?

We’ve added a couple of new ways for you to stay connected in between calls:

✅ Join the Casual Community
Keep the conversation going, ask questions, and share wins with other leaders in the Foundation community.

Let’s keep it going.
✅ Share your thoughts from this session in the Facebook group.
✅ Missed it? Don’t worry — the next one’s coming up soon.
✅ Got a challenge? Put your hand up for the hot seat.

Clarity is kind. And momentum compounds.

Hot Seat Volunteers Needed

If you’re interested in the hot seat this week, we’d love to hear from you. It’s a great way to get focused feedback and insights on a challenge you’re tackling. Please respond to this email!

💬 Bring a Friend Who’d Love This

Know someone who’s growing a business, could use some fresh energy, or just needs to connect with people who get it?

Invite them to join Office Hours.
It’s a great way to introduce them to the Foundation and give them a taste of what this community is all about.

Let’s keep building beyond limits—together.

We’d Love Your Feedback

Help us keep improving our sessions by sharing your thoughts in this quick, 3-question survey: Meeting Feedback Survey.