THE 90% RULE will fix your content

Stephen Stanberry
August 26th, 2025

Hey friend!

Sunday Night. 11:47 PM.

I'm sitting in my sofa with three different versions of the same client story spread across my laptop screen.

Version 1: The comeback story.
Version 2: The struggle story.
Version 3: The disaster story.

All decent. All "good enough."

But here's the problem: I had zero clue which one would actually make my phone ring.

Know this feeling? When you're guessing instead of knowing what works?

I used to post stories based on gut feelings. "This one feels inspiring!" "People love vulnerability!" Total amateur hour.

Then I started tracking like a maniac.

THE 90% RULE: Track business results, not engagement vanity metrics.

Here's what shocked me:

My "failed product launch that taught me everything" story? Generated 5 client conversations few months ago.

My "morning routine" post? Complete crickets.

Failure beats inspiration every single time.

Now I track everything. Which stories get saves vs shares. Which generate DMs vs comments. Which lead to actual sales calls.

The pattern became obvious: Mess beats message. Disasters beat inspiration. "I almost quit" beats "look how successful I am."

Your audience doesn't want your highlight reel. They want your blooper reel with lessons attached.

Try tracking your next five stories against actual business results. Watch what really converts.

Stephen

P.S. Want my complete system for turning stories into consistent business results? Reply "STORIES" and I'll send my Story-Driven Growth Guide.

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