Why Storytelling Is So Powerful For Your Business

Are you wondering why storytelling is so powerful for your business? Today I want to break down why you should start using more storytelling, and how it will allow you to sell more and connect with your audience on a deeper level.

People are drawn to stories. When it comes to getting clients and growing your business, if it's not working the way you want, it's probably largely because the story isn't hitting yet. You don't have the right story or you're not telling it the right way.

I'll give you some examples. One of the most popular success books of all time is called “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. For those of you who read this book, you know there is a set of powerful principles in each version. Do you remember any from the top of your head?

Now, can you tell me the story of how the book was originally created? What happened that led to this book being written in the first place? I’ll give you a little background. The story goes, Napoleon had a meeting with Andrew Carnegie. Andrew Carnegie was the richest man in the world at the time and Napoleon ended up sitting across the desk from him as a researcher, writing an article on him.

Carnegie says, "Young man, I like your energy." He goes on to say, "I have been looking for someone like you to write this book. I have this idea. I believe that there's a science to success. There are principles of success and I want to introduce the person who writes this book to all of my wealthy and successful friends. I'm going to have this person interview all of them and together, reverse engineer, deconstruct and find out what the success principles are. Then, we will codify them in a book and give it to the masses so anyone who wants to be successful can be successful. Would you like to write this book?"

Napoleon didn’t even know how to respond so Carnegie continues, "Well, it's not paid, but you will meet all of these other influential people and spend a lot of time with them. We'll help you publish the book and everything". The story goes that Andrew Carnegie actually had a timer underneath the desk. When he asked Napoleon to write the book, he set the timer for 60 seconds. If Napoleon Hill didn't decide in 60 seconds, he was going to take the offer off the table. Napoleon Hill decided in 48 seconds, then spent 20 years researching and writing this book, which became Think and Grow Rich.

Now, a lot of people know that story. There are many principles in this book and you may only remember one or two. Yet almost everyone remembers the story that was the catalyst for the book being written in the first place. My point is this: people remember stories. They don't remember facts.

Let me ask you another question. Can you name three characters from The Avengers? What about three classes you took your freshman year of high school? There’s a disconnect because we know The Avengers tell a story, while your classes were based on fact.

Facts go in one ear and out the other. They don't put down a foundation. They don't build a home in your mind where they stay. Why? The Avengers and these characters are meant to make you feel a certain way and evoke an emotion that stays with you throughout the series. Characters are a story. We remember those right away.

Even if you're on social media, whether you know it or not, you are telling stories that people want to listen to or watch. The more people watch your stuff, the more likely they are to end up buying from you.

The lessons for today is go read Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill if you haven’t already. Soak up that knowledge and use it to your advantage. Next, remember that when you find the right story to tell and the right way to tell it, you will be able to connect to the right leads and turn them into customers that remember and come back to you.

Talk soon.

- Jason Capital

Recognized Top 100 Entrepreneur By The White House

Best-Selling Author, Guest Contributor To Forbes, CNBC, Entrepreneur