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- If Your Story Starts Like This... You’re Doomed
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Hey friend!
A few weeks ago, I was scrolling through LinkedIn when I saw a post from someone I actually respect.
The hook? Solid. The topic? Intriguing.
But then I hit the first sentence:
"Back in 2019, I had an experience that changed everything for me…"
I already knew what was coming.
A slow, meandering setup. A story that would take its sweet time getting to the point.
So I did what most readers do when they sense work ahead, I kept scrolling.
Not because the story wasn’t valuable. But because it made me wait to get to the good part.
That’s the thing, your audience doesn’t have time for slow builds.
The internet is brutal.
You have three seconds to hook someone before they scroll, delete, or mentally check out.
And yet, most people still start stories like this:
"One day..."
"Back in college..."
"In 2020, I realized something..."
No urgency. No tension. No reason to keep reading.
But great stories don’t introduce the moment. They drop you inside it.
Instead of:
"When I first started my business, I was broke and struggling."
Try:
"$2.16 in my bank account. My rent’s due tomorrow."
Instead of:
"I always knew I wanted to be my own boss."
Try:
"Another 10-hour shift. My boss just dumped more work on my desk. I stare at the clock, counting the minutes."
The moment people experience your story, they connect. And connection? That’s what makes people trust you, read your content, and buy from you.
So next time you sit down to tell a story, don’t explain it. Drop them into it.
I break this down even further in a short reel, watch it here for a real-world example.
Talk soon!!
Stephen
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