The Story You Already Have

Small beats epic

People assume a good story needs stakes: the near-collapse, the miracle save. In practice, a two-minute account of a specific decision you got wrong will hold a room far better.

Specific beats general

"We had a difficult client" is a category. "He phoned at 6pm on a Friday and opened with a single word: 'Explain'" is a story. Detail is what makes a listener see it.

Vulnerability without a point is oversharing. Vulnerability in service of an idea is credibility.

Find three

Keep a running list of three usable stories: one about a mistake, one about a change of mind, and one about someone else who taught you something. Almost any talk you will ever give can be anchored to one of them.