- The Yellow Bite
- Posts
- One word that changes everything
One word that changes everything
It doesn't report what happened. It makes you LIVE it...
Stephen Stanberry
January 14th, 2026
In partnership with
Hi friend,
Happy Wednesday.
I have an honest question for you…
When was the last time someone stopped scrolling to read your entire post?
Truly…
Not a quick like and move on.
Not a "nice post" comment.
I mean actually stopped, read every word, and felt something.
Think about that for a second.
If you can't remember, that tells me everything about how you're telling stories.
Most founders are in the same boat:
You know storytelling matters. But your stories fall flat.
People scroll past. No replies. No business results.
If this makes you uncomfortable, keep reading.
Because the founders who figure this out get:
Stories people screenshot and send to friends
Content that builds trust faster than any pitch deck
DMs from clients who feel like they already know you
Now, another honest question:
If there are founders who can do this, why can't you?
It's not complicated.
It points back to one word.
About two weeks ago, I picked up my son from school.
When we got home, he doesn't say:
"Daddy, I had fun on the trampoline today."
Nope.
He grabs my arm and says:
"Daddy! Daddy! I jumped SO HIGH on the trampoline! Like THIS high!" (one hand off the steering wheel reaching up)
"And my tummy went woooooosh and I was bouncing and bouncing and I was FLYING and the wind went WHOOOOSH in my face and then I did a flip!"
He kept going the entire drive home, making me feel every single second.
And I'm thinking...
Kids get something most founders miss.
You see:
Adults report what happened.
"I was stressed before the pitch." "The meeting didn't go well."
All facts. Zero feeling.
But kids? They transport you.
They make you CREATE the scene.
And when YOU create it? You own the emotion.
Today, I'm sharing the framework:
My 3-layer system to stop reporting and start transporting readers.
I call it the "Imagine" Framework.
The Future of Shopping? AI + Actual Humans.
AI has changed how consumers shop by speeding up research. But one thing hasn’t changed: shoppers still trust people more than AI.
Levanta’s new Affiliate 3.0 Consumer Report reveals a major shift in how shoppers blend AI tools with human influence. Consumers use AI to explore options, but when it comes time to buy, they still turn to creators, communities, and real experiences to validate their decisions.
The data shows:
Only 10% of shoppers buy through AI-recommended links
87% discover products through creators, blogs, or communities they trust
Human sources like reviews and creators rank higher in trust than AI recommendations
The most effective brands are combining AI discovery with authentic human influence to drive measurable conversions.
Affiliate marketing isn’t being replaced by AI, it’s being amplified by it.
Layer 1: Set the Scene
Start with: "Imagine..."
Watch the difference:
Bad: "I was nervous walking into the investor meeting."
Good: "Imagine you're in a glass conference room on the 40th floor. The AC is cranked so high you can see your breath. Your laptop won't connect to their screen. The CFO keeps checking her Apple Watch. And you're on slide 3 of a 15-slide deck you're no longer sure about..."
The word "imagine" forces readers to CREATE the scene.
Not watch it. CREATE it.
When THEY create it? They own the emotion.
Layer 2: Add Sensory Details
What do you see? Hear? Smell? Feel?
"Fluorescent lights humming..." "Your hands getting clammy..." "Someone's phone buzzing non-stop..."
Now you're not just IN the room.
You're experiencing it with all five senses.
Layer 3: Build the Tension
What's at stake?
"And you've got 6 minutes to close a deal you spent 3 months chasing..."
"And if this doesn't work, you're out of runway in 45 days..."
Now we're not just with you.
We're feeling the PRESSURE with you.
The Complete Framework:
Before: "I was nervous before my first podcast interview."
After: "Imagine you're sitting in front of your laptop at 9:58am. The Zoom link is open. Your hands hovering over the keyboard. You can hear your heartbeat in your ears. The host is going to let you in any second. And you're about to go live in front of 50,000 people with questions you haven't prepared for..."
See the difference?
Before we wrap up, keep this in mind:
You don't need more stories. You need better delivery.
Tomorrow, I'm revealing the bridge that connects your story to their problem.
The part that actually drives business results.
Your turn:
Take your peak moment from yesterday.
Rewrite it using "Imagine..."
Add 3 sensory details.
Build the tension.
Reply with it.
Tomorrow's lesson won't hit as hard without today's practice.
Stephen
Reply