Hi there, it’s Jill!

Have you ever wondered why some people seem effortlessly convincing when they speak, while you, despite your best efforts, find storytelling a bit… tricky?

Today, let’s talk about storytelling — why it’s such a critical skill, and how you can sharpen it to elevate your career, your influence, and even your personal life. Once mastered, storytelling becomes a multiplier for almost everything you do.

Let’s dive in!

01 Storytelling Exists Everywhere

When we think of storytelling, we often picture someone presenting in a meeting room, armed with a polished slide deck.

But in reality, storytelling is everywhere:

Lawyers weave narratives to build compelling cases.
Teachers spark curiosity through stories that make concepts come alive.
Architects present their designs through the story of vision and purpose.
Real estate agents frame properties around the lifestyles they enable.

Storytelling isn’t confined to boardrooms. It’s in conversations, interviews, sales pitches, and even casual chats over coffee.

Our brains are wired to remember vivid stories far more than cold numbers or abstract facts. That’s why storytelling is such a powerful tool for facilitating collaboration, building trust, and persuading others.

So why does it feel so hard to do?

02 Why We Struggle with Storytelling

I recently read Sell or Be Sold by Grant Cardone, a Real Estate professional who’s spent decades observing what makes some people excel at selling.

His conclusion? People who aren’t good at selling aren’t lacking intelligence, diligence, or personality — they simply don’t know what they’re doing.

One of the biggest barriers to effective storytelling is the curse of knowledge — the idea that once we know something, it’s hard to imagine what it’s like not to know it.

Think of it like tapping out a rhythm in your head — you hear the full melody, but your listener hears only the disconnected beats. To break the curse, you need to give your audience the whole picture — the backdrop, the context, the emotional tone, instead of just isolated facts.

So what should we do?

03 Three Ways to Tell Better Stories

Here are some practical ways to make your stories resonate:

Start with conservative assumptions
Begin by grounding your audience in the basics. Even if they know the subject, they might not know your angle or the intended takeaways. Assume less and explain more, but with focus.
Paint vivid mental images
Slides can be helpful in presentations, but even without them, you can create mental pictures with descriptive language and analogies. The clearer the mental image, the stronger the connection.
Be strategically specific on details
Details can make your story unforgettable — but not all details matter equally. Highlight the ones that shape perception or evoke emotion. Sometimes a single powerful detail is all it takes to make your story stick.

Storytelling vs. Selling

The subtle difference between storytelling and selling is this:

Storytelling is about taking people on a journey and letting them remember the experience and emotion you created.
Selling is about identifying needs and positioning yourself as the solution.

The best communicators often blend both — but when you’re telling a story, the best result comes from focusing on demonstrating instead of pushing.

Final Thoughts

Storytelling isn’t just a “soft skill” — it’s a professional superpower. It makes ideas memorable, inspires action, and sets you apart in a world flooded with information.

Start small. Share a personal anecdote in your next meeting. Frame your next project update as a before-and-after journey. Experiment with details, pacing, and imagery.

With practice, you’ll find people listening longer, remembering more, and connecting more deeply with what you have to say.

Cheers to your journey

— Jill

Founder of Anchor Growth Newsletter

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