The Story Isn’t Over (And That’s the Point)

Stephen Stanberry
February 10th, 2025

My wife’s addicted to volleyball.

She’s been playing since she was 15 repping her country, juggling a 9-5, parenting our 3 kids under 5, and running her fitness business.

Wild, right?

She recently won another beach tournament. Added a shiny medal to her collection like it’s no big deal.

But here’s what’s interesting…

The secret to her success?
The same strategy that makes great content: open loops.

In volleyball, it’s the rally.
You never know where the ball’s going next.
Your eyes stay glued until the point’s over.

That’s exactly what keeps people hooked on your content.

An open loop is an unanswered question.
A “what happens next?” moment.
It pulls people in—and keeps them there.

Instead of wrapping up every story neatly,
leave a little tension.
A gap they have to fill.

Want to try it?

Here’s a quick formula:

Master this, and people won’t just read your content.
They’ll crave the next post.

Here’s my template how to use the Open Loop Framework:

{Timeframe} ago, I made a decision that scared me.
{Describe the decision and why it was risky}.

For months, I doubted myself.
But something shifted when {pivotal moment or realization}.

Here’s what changed:

The hardest part was taking the first step.
But the outcome?
{Key insight or lesson you learned}.

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