Once upon a time…

What a powerful starter. We grow up with stories — powerful narratives that were, at one point, experienced by a human being, whether fictional or real. For many of us, stories are as close as we will come to experiencing something similar to this person. There are lessons, triumphs, failures, and a lot of emotions. Even for business-minded entrepreneurs, our stories are our biggest connector, and yet so many of us shy away from telling them! We have a tendency to play down what we have experienced and talk up the experiences of others instead of our own. Funny how that works, huh?

Writing and telling stories can work for us in a variety of ways. You can step up as an influencer in your career, or build your own business and brand. Everyone from beginner to expert can use their story to connect with their market. Not only can stories help connect you with your audience, but they can also help you connect with business partners, potential co-creators, and investors.

If you are on the fence about using your story to connect with your audience because you don’t think it will work for you, I invite you to think of how your own story could impact someone else.

5 Tips to Create a Compelling Business Story

A couple of weekends ago I had the opportunity to attend a powerful conference in Philadelphia focused on the science and spirit of human motivation. The connecting piece to every lecture, workshop, and keynote was one thing, stories.

Powerful thought and emotion connecting stories of heartbreak, triumph, growth, failure, and every step in between. It dawned on me listening to one particular lecture, that as one woman amongst a thousand, I was having incredible shifts both in my mind and body. Then I turned and looked around to the audience, and saw faces twisting, aching, laughing, leaning in, tearing up, and reacting with their own truth in connecting with the speakers’ stories.

We love a story.

A really well told, honest, open story. Whether fiction or non-fiction, stories have a way of painting more than just what happened. Stories impact us with the deeper context of the person who went through it, their humility, and ultimately, their breakthroughs.

[RELATED: From Corporate to Farmstead Entrepreneur: A Conversation with Rachael Tuller]

Think about when you’re reading the latest blog on CCG or even any of the “hack-it” business or life articles on the web. The articles that you get hooked on the fastest and leave you with a lasting impression will always include a story.

If you are looking to connect with your audience, you tell what you have experienced. This is what keeps us connected to other people at a primal level, and makes your writing more about the audience than you. It may feel awkward or selfish to focus on yourself while you are writing, but it’s required when you write authentically. You trust the audience to take it in and that is all. Your readers will process and naturally connect with what you say in their own way.

But, that part is really none of your business; your mission is to tell it.

So, how do you go about crafting a powerful business story?

First, think back to an experience that matches the theme or topic of what you are discussing or writing about.

1. HONESTY

Write not only the facts but the feeling and emotion behind the story. Focus in on how the people in the story felt. What was seen, felt or heard?

2. BE CONCISE

Move your audience through the story without spending too much time setting the context for what you want them to get out of it. The more precise your story, the easier your readers will catch on with what you want them to walk away with.

3. BE AUTHENTIC

Use your own words when creating your business story. I can’t stress this enough. Audiences can sense when you are saying something in a tone or manner that doesn’t match how you talk. Your audience wants to feel connected with you. Use your voice to project the story, and don’t be afraid to throw in a couple of phrases or words that keep it light and real. Project your personality and be you.

4. THE LESSON

Focus your message on the problem and the lesson —– what made you realize what you had to do in the end?  what was the conclusion of the story.

5. BELIEVE

Don’t overthink your story. Remember your audience will take what they want from your story. Sometimes they will be sad by it, and sometimes they will say “I SO needed that.”

Your story is powerful in so many ways. When you put it out there, you are lifting up others and also serving to grow yourself and your business. Don’t wait to start writing — start right now.

Cheers to you and your business story, Lady Boss!