Make Marketing Suck Less

How Small Moments Create Amazing Stories

Is your story movie worthy? Does it need to be?

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Instead of reading why not listen to this blog post instead? 

There's a myth that in order to tell your business story, it must a HUGE story. There must be a radical transformation.

It's the entrepreneur who was living in her car and now runs a multi-million dollar empire.

The down-on-her luck author who wrote an epic story in coffee shops that got rejected by nearly every publisher until one believed in her vision. Now she's a billionaire (way to go J.K Rowling).

What makes the best stories?

The truth: You don't need a story that rivals Homer's Odyssey. 

You've just got to pay attention to the small moments where you're life changes in a blink of an eye. It could be a compliment. A “A” on a paper. Watching a movie that helped you realized your big dream.

My small moment story

If you read my about page, you know that my first public speaking experience was a failure of epic proportions.

When I joined the high school speech and debate team in my senior year, I went to every tournament every Saturday. I competed every weekend. Inevitably, when they were announcing the top speakers my name was….

NEVER MENTIONED.

I lost weekend after weekend. Failed to impress the judges time and time again. There was no reason to continue. No hope of placing or ever winning.

But I didn't give up.

In between tournaments, I worked my ass off. Met with my speech coach, Mr. Leonard, twice a week after school to get feedback, perfect my craft, and mold my message. I worked with my peers who were far more talented than I could ever hope to be. 

Then boldly, inexplicable I would wake up at 6 am on Saturday morning and compete. Lose. Start the work again.

Toward the end of the year. We had a meet at Greeley West High School. I felt something click with my speaking. Like I finally got it. All my hard work and endless toil were about to pay off. For once, I felt confident, self-assured and dare I say unstoppable.

This was it….I could feel it.

 They announced 3rd place, 2nd place and 1st place was….

Not me.

My heart sunk. I never was going to truly get it. I never was going to improve.

As I headed to the bright yellow school bus, I spied Mr. Leonard beaming at me. He walked over to me, and handed me an orange and black ribbon – honorable mention.

He hugged me and said, “You came in 4th kid, great job. I'm so proud of you.”

As I clutched that ribbon, I felt hope. The hope embodied that scrap of fabric propelled me to get a Ph.D. in communication.

Small moments – big impact

You don't need to have an epic turning point story about why you choose your business or career. You don't have to go from rags to riches. Be on the precipice of jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge or serve time for dealing drugs then turn your life around. 

Pay attention to your small moments.

Don't blow them off as being unimportant or moments that happen to everyone. They don't! That moment was created uniquely for you.

The largest transformation stem from small moments that give us hope and instill a confidence in our ability.

What's your small moment? Honor it. Bring it out in the story of your business.

 P.S. If you need help finding your small moment story, I still have a limited number of free Presentation Challenge sessions available. Bring me your biggest speaking challenge, and I'll craft up a few actions that will make a huge difference in your communication. Time has run out on these sessions, but if you are serious about making a huge improvement in your speaking, schedule a consult with me to find out how I can help you.